St. Ann Roman Catholic Church in Staten Island, New York, was the site of a violent disturbance on Friday, January 9, 2026, during a 7 a.m. Mass.
On Friday morning, a man entered Saint Ann Roman Catholic Church in Staten Island during Mass and stormed the altar, causing a major disruption. Police were called to the scene, where the individual became uncooperative and physically resisted officers.
The struggle resulted in minor damage to the altar area, including scattered flowers, and the man was eventually subdued with a taser and handcuffed. Amateur video from ABC 7 New York captured the altercation, showing the man and officers exchanging punches at the front of the sanctuary while he yelled throughout.
Two police officers sustained minor injuries during the incident. The man was taken to a hospital for evaluation and is reportedly not a member of the congregation. His identity has not been released, no motive has been disclosed, and specific charges have not yet been announced.
At Saturday afternoon’s Mass, Rev. Steve Challman briefly addressed the event, saying: “We’ve had a difficult couple of days here at St. Ann’s. But we find ourselves gathered here as we do each week in the presence of the Lord. And as a parish family, we pray for all who were impacted by yesterday’s events, and we thank the members of the NYPD who are with us tonight and who spend each day protecting Staten Island.”
This incident occurs amid a reported rise in hostility toward churches. According to a Family Research Council report released in August, 415 hostile acts against churches were documented in 2024 across 43 states, affecting 383 congregations. The report notes that many motivations remain unknown and places the trend in the context of declining religious attendance and affiliation in the U.S.
