BALTIMORE — A Baltimore pastor who was recently named an auxiliary bishop for the Baltimore Archdiocese has appealed to Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan to increase free COVID-19 testing in the city to expand beyond his parish, Sacred Heart of Jesus/Sagrado Corazon de Jesus.

But even at Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Baltimore’s Highlandtown neighborhood, health officials have struggled to keep up with demand as hundreds have sought testing in recent weeks.

“We’re calling on the governor to invest in the people of Baltimore with tests,” said Bishop-designate Lewandowski, explaining that while capacity has improved in affluent communities, it still lags in poorer African American and Latino neighborhoods.

Bishop-designate Lewandowski’s parish is considered by many the heart of the Hispanic community in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

The newly named bishop was joined at the news conference by several African American pastors of other Baltimore churches in hard-hit communities and by representatives from Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development, or BUILD, which is helping to administer the testing at Sacred Heart of Jesus.