Nun robbed as she tries to buy Lenten dinner

ROXBURY, Mass. (WHDH) -- A nun was buying tickets for the Lenten Fish Dinner when a man targeted her and robbed her of her money.

“I put my money here and I didn’t have enough, six, so I put my hand in my pocket to get some more and as I’m trying to get some more, this man’s hand comes over and takes the money,” said Sister Alice Kenneally.

Sister Alice said she and the robber exchanged words.

“I said, ‘that’s mine’ and he says, ‘I haven’t done anything. I didn’t take anything,’ and I said ‘it is,’ and then he ran out,” said Kenneally.

Kenneally has worked in this community since the 1970s. She said she wasn’t hurt, just stunned.

“Maybe he needed it and if he did I forgive him,” said Kenneally.

Others in the Mission Hill neighborhood were outraged when they found out what happened to her.

“He’s a disgusting person,” said one local.

“If he had asked her for the money, I am sure she would’ve given it to him,” said another local.

“I heard she was paying for a fish dinner, and I’m running that fish dinner. So we’re going to get her her money back and give her all the fish she wants to eat,” one woman said.

Sister Alice said if she could say one thing to him it would be:

“I wish he would get a job if he can and don’t go around taking money from people, especially the older people,” said Kenneally.

Boston police responded immediately. They are still searching for the suspect said to be in his 50s.