Staten Island Priest ‘Overwhelmed With Support’ After Assault

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An unfortunate circumstance confirmed to Father Marc Roselli, S.J., what he knew all along about the members of Our Lady of Mount Carmel-St. Benedicta and St. Mary of the Assumption parish on Staten Island.

“I learned in a different way what I knew about the people here. It confirmed all the good things. The way they responded with me is the way they would respond with anyone. I’m very grateful,” Father Roselli told CNY.

“Could I be more blessed? I don’t think so. I see God in them.’’

Father Roselli, 61, was the victim of an alleged armed robbery and assault by two men as he walked from his car to Our Lady of Mount Carmel-St. Benedicta Church on June 2. The parish’s parochial vicar for 10 months stopped off at the church shortly around 5 a.m. before he was to pick up a parishioner to drive him to the ferry.

Two men approached Father Roselli and demanded he turn over his wallet with $18 cash, cell phone and car keys. Before fleeing, one of the suspects punched Father Roselli, giving him a black left eye.

Father Roselli was not wearing his priest’s collar at the time of the incident and his Ford Fusion was found a short time later a few blocks from the church.

Kerry Pack, 39, of Staten Island and Antwine Lucas, 44, of Brooklyn were in police custody the next morning, charged with the felony crimes of robbery and criminal possession of stolen property.

“It was a random event, and we live in that type of world,” Father Roselli said.

“If they rung the doorbell during the day and said can you help us out, we would try to do something for them. We help people in need financially. You feel sad people resort to these things.’’

Following the robbery, Father Roselli continued as he would on any Thursday by serving as the celebrant for the 8 a.m. and noon Masses.

“All this attention (from the media) is the harder part for me than what happened,’’ Father Roselli said the next day.

“My eye is not impaired at all. If he was going to hit me, he hit me in a way that didn’t hurt me.

“I’m fine and not rattled. I’m just overwhelmed with support.’’