Preparedness
Heroic Parishioners Baffles Armed Teen’s Disturbance at First Communion Mass
This past weekend, a congregation in Louisiana experienced an unexpected shock when a hooded teenager, dressed entirely in black and armed with a rifle, attempted to infiltrate their church service. The service was not just any ordinary Sunday mass, but a special ceremony where the gathered children were set to receive their First Communion.
But those present at St. Mary Magdalen Church were not defenseless. Several aware and brave parishioners acted swiftly, ensuring that the potential danger was averted.
According to the Abbeville Police Department, a call reporting a suspicious person with a gun at the church was received around 10:35 a.m. on Saturday. The would-be intruder, a 16-year-old male, tried to sneak into the Catholic church using the rear entrance.
However, the church and police reported that, “upon opening the door, the suspect was immediately confronted by parishioners, escorted outside, and the police were called.” There was no delay in action from the attendees or the law enforcement.
When the police arrived at the scene, they found the suspect disarmed and pinned to the ground by several parishioners, as reported by the Arcadiana Advocate. He was taken into custody and a search ensued for a possible second shooter, as per the suspect’s claims.
An excerpt from a livestream of the Mass shows one parishioner informing Rev. Nicholas DuPré of the situation. Calmly, Fr. DuPré asks his parish to take a seat and join him in praying the Hail Mary.
In the midst of the confusion, the congregation was advised to stay calm and ensure their children’s safety. An announcement over the PA system stated, “So guys, just get a hold of your child. Go slowly. We did apprehend a young man. He is in custody. He is in the policy custody. Calm down and just get next to your child.”
While it was undoubtedly a harrowing experience for all, the church expressed its gratitude to the fast-acting parishioners and police officers in ensuring everyone’s safety. The church said in a statement, “While we realize this was a frightening experience for those in attendance, we are incredibly grateful to both parishioners and police officers for acting quickly to ensure the safety of all.”
Following the incident, the teenager was taken to Abbeville General Hospital’s behavioral unit for evaluation. He was eventually charged with terrorizing and two counts of possession of a firearm by a juvenile.
Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel of the Diocese of Lafayette praised those who averted what could have been a great tragedy. He said, “We are thankful to God that a tragedy was avoided at the First Communion mass for the children of St. Mary Magdalen in Abbeville.”
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the threats faced by religious institutions across America. It happened just one week after a pastor was targeted in a Pennsylvania church, one month following a brutal attack on an Assyrian bishop in Australia, and several months after a violent incident at Joel Osteen’s Houston-area megachurch.
A report from the Family Research Council highlighted that there have been at least 915 acts of hostility against American churches between 2018 and 2023, ranging from vandalism and arson to bomb threats.
St. Mary Magdalen Church, in response to the incident, shared a prayer on Facebook: “Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts, heal your people’s wounds and transform brokenness into wholeness. Grant us courage and wisdom, humility and grace, to act with justice. Breathe wisdom into our prayers. Grant that all harmed by the threat of violence may find peace in justice. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.”
Watch a local news report about the incident below:
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