St. Anthony Shrine issued a warning Tuesday to neighbors and parishioners in the area of two men who may have violent tendencies and harass people in the Arch Street area downtown — one of whom has threatened the lives of staff.

“As you know, the Shrine strives to be a place of peace and a connecting point for all to receive the help they seek, both spiritually and corporally,” wrote Thomas Conway, a father at the Shrine. “With the content provided here in mind, please prayerfully consider your interactions with these men and help us to help him in other ways. The more currency they collect from Shrine worshipers, the greater their incentive to continue their disruptive behavior on this street.”

In the advisory, the Shrine staff warned primarily about a person named Richard, as well as his friend Patrick. Both claim to be homeless and have sought donations from parishioners in the area, the organization warned, though both are reportedly not homeless and “commute every day from their respective residences.”

St. Anthony Shrine is a Roman Catholic church and charitable organization run by Franciscan friars in downtown Boston.

Richard has “violent tendencies,” has stolen directly from the church and others throughout Boston, and recently threatened to kill a Shrine employee and a Friar in residence, Conway stated.

The man also frequently states that he “is in charge of Arch Street,” the advisory continues, and screams “the worst profanities” around the church loud enough to be heard several stories up, particularly during Eucharist celebrations.

“He regularly bullies employees of the Shrine, our volunteers, donors, worshippers and even homeless people,” said Conway. “He forbids other homeless people from being on Arch Street. This directly interferes with our ministry.”

The Shrine staff warns Richard can “also be charming” when he wants something.

The man is “often assisted” by a second man named Patrick, who is a registered sex offender, Conway stated.

The Shrine staff and Friars have met with police and court officials about the men, Conway said, and both Boston police and private security employees are monitoring the pair’s movement in the area.

The advisory states parishioners may “may have noticed the recent proliferation of cameras on Arch St,” noting the cameras are directly related to the situation with Richard and Patrick. Both have a no-trespassing ordinance for the building.

Conway advised parishioners that Richard “is not at all cooperative with treatment programming nor is he homeless” and is “often asking for money to feed his addictions.”

“He is taking advantage of your good nature as someone who wants to help,” Conway said. “Unfortunately, giving money to these two men undermines the efforts of a multitude of professionally-run organizations that are well established in the City of Boston, whose primary goal is to provide lasting assistance and support, including addiction recovery services, to people who are in need, no matter their life circumstances.”