At the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Suwałki (Podlaskie Voivodeship) a theft took place during a mass. The surveillance video published by the parish shows a faithful who went to communion, leaving her purse on the bench. This moment was used by a young woman who took the bag. She took out a wallet with money and documents from inside, and left the bag in the vestibule of the temple. The pastor is appealing to anyone who recognizes the woman for help.
The gathered get up, go towards the altar to receive communion. This is also done by the faithful sitting in the third row from the back. As she gets up, she leaves her purse on the bench, which is noticed by a woman walking behind the faithful. She goes to the bench, looks around, then takes her purse and leaves.
We can see all this on the monitoring recording posted online by the parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Suwałki. The theft took place at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Suwałki on Thursday (January 19) during the 12 noon mass.
She picked up her purse, left on the benchSanctuary of Divine Mercy in Suwałki
Parish: took the wallet with money and documents, left her purse on the table
“If anyone recognizes the woman in the surveillance video, please contact the parish or the police unit,” the post reads on social media.
She walked over to the pew as the owner of the purse went to communionSanctuary of Divine Mercy in Suwałki
The young woman left her purse on the table in the vestibule of the temple. According to the parish, she took a wallet with money and documents.
Priest: The seventh commandment still applies
She left with her purseSanctuary of Divine Mercy in Suwałki
Parish Priest Fr. Jarema Sykulski warns against leaving bags in the pews when going to communion. He hopes to recover his money and documents.
– The seventh commandment – do not steal – still applies, and monitoring certainly helps to expose these types of acts – he tells us.
The parish reported the matter to the police.
Main photo source: Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Suwałki