Canadian Catholic diocese aims to repair defaced Stations of the Cross

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Sep 8, 2020 / 03:38 pm (CNA).-  

The Bishop of St. Catharines, Ontario is pleading for thieves to return the consecrated Host after the tabernacle was stolen from the St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral on Tuesday.

Bishop Gerard Bergie of St. Catharines pleaded for the two people who took the tabernacle to return it, along with its contents, in an interview Tuesday afternoon with Canadian station NewsTalk 610 CKTB.

“The tabernacle can be replaced. It’s the contents (…) that is what is so precious to us. That’s what’s irreplaceable,” said Bergie, adding that he hopes that no harm is done to the Blessed Sacrament.

He hopes that the person or persons who took the tabernacle “realize it’s not of any monetary value, and be able to return it to us.”

“No questions asked, if they return it,” he said.

The tabernacle is made of steel, but has two bronze-colored doors, said the bishop. Bergie suspected that perhaps the thieves thought the tabernacle was made of gold, or perhaps had a more nefarious intent with stealing the hosts.

“Who knows what goes through the minds of these people,” he said.

Video footage captured two people, believed to be a man and a woman, breaking into the cathedral at approximately 4:30 a.m. Sept. 8. As it was dark, the footage is “kind of grainy” and it has been difficult to determine a clear image of the suspects, he said.

Many people have taken to loitering near the cathedral in recent months, Bergie explained.

“Even yesterday, the man that’s our caretaker said he noticed two fellas that were staying around all day, outside sleeping and eating,” he said. “I don’t know if they’re involved, it’s hard to tell,” said Bergie. 

Fr. Donald Lizzotti, rector of the cathedral, told CNA that he believed the thieves had previously cased the cathedral to determine how to steal the tabernacle.

“And they came back later and actually pried the cover, which is over the old metal tabernacle,” he said. “They pried that off and put it on the floor. They took brass doors off of that,” and then finally took the entire tabernacle off of the altar.

He told CNA that the police were unable to find fingerprints and they believe the thieves had wiped the scene clean.

Lizzotti said that the diocese had contacted scrap yards in the area and informed them about the theft, and that they know what to look for.

St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral was hit by numerous instances of theft and vandalism during its renovations in 2019, including the theft of bronze and copper lampposts almost exactly one year ago.

Lizzotti told CNA that he does not think the theft of the tabernacle is related to the Sept. 10, 2019 theft, as the perpetrator was arrested after attempting to sell the metal to a scrapyard. That theft was what prompted the cathedral to install numerous security cameras inside and outside the building. 

Extra steps have now been taken to ensure there are no more break-ins.

“We’ve now secured the one doorway that they got into,” said Lizzotti. “We’ve actually made it completely secure by putting crossbars across the two doors. So they can’t pry the doors unless they rip the wood completely out.”

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The President of the Communications Commission of the 2024 International Eucharistic Congress, Father Livingston Olivares (left) accompanies EWTN Vice President for Programming and Production Peter Gagnon (center-right), EWTN Vice President for Spanish-language Production, Marketing and Radio Enrique Duprat (center-left), EWTN Production Director Michael Holmes (far right) and IEC Quito 2024 Communications Coordinator Marcelo Mejía (front, kneeling) at the Monument to the Equator, the exact location of the Equator (from which the country of Ecuador takes its name) on the outskirts of the country’s capital city of Quito, site of the 2024 International Eucharistic Congress. / Credit: Communications Commission of the 2024 International Eucharistic Congress

ACI Prensa Staff, Sep 4, 2024 / 15:46 pm (CNA).

The Catholic Church in Latin America is once again preparing to host an International Eucharistic Congress, the fifth the region has hosted since 1934.

On this occasion, the event will take place in Quito, Ecuador, Sept. 8–15 in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the country’s consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

EWTN will provide complete coverage of the opening and closing Masses and Eucharistic processions as well as all the important sessions and speakers.

Eucharistic congresses “are an expression of a particular veneration and love of the universal Church for the Eucharistic mystery, a source of fraternity and peace,” explains the website of the 53rd Eucharistic Congress of Quito 2024.

The first International Eucharistic Congress took place in 1881 in Lille, France. In 1934, the first Latin American city hosted an event of this magnitude dedicated to Christ in the Eucharist.

Below is a brief history of the four international Eucharistic Congresses held in Latin America prior to Quito 2024.

Buenos Aires 1934

During the pontificate of Pius XI, the Argentine capital was chosen to host the 32nd International Eucharistic Congress held Oct. 10–14, 1934, with the theme “The Social Kingship of Christ through the Eucharist.”

The Holy Father appointed Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII, as papal legate, and at that time Archbishop Santiago Luis Copello headed the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires.

According to statistics, the events held Oct. 12–14 were attended by an estimated 1 million people, and the main celebrations took place around a large monument several meters high known as the Cross of Palermo.

Rio de Janeiro 1955

Under the pontificate of Pius XII, the 36th International Eucharistic Congress took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The event was held July 17–24, 1955, with the theme “The Eucharistic Reign of Christ the Redeemer.”

At that time, the archdiocese was headed by Cardinal Jaime de Barros Câmara, and the pontiff sent the secretary of the Sacred Consistorial Congregation, Cardinal Adeodato Giovanni Piazza, as his representative.

On the last day, Pius XII gave a radio message in which he thanked the people for their devotion and in which he stated that if the gift of God, the Eucharist, was truly known, “there would be no member of the faithful who would fail to take an active part in the divine Sacrifice on the Lord’s day.”

Also, the day after the conclusion of the Eucharistic congress, the first General Conference of the Latin American bishops was held in Rio de Janeiro, after which the Latin American Bishops’ Council (CELAM, by its Spanish acronym) was created.

Bogotá 1968

Under the theme “Vinculum Charitatis” (“Bond of Charity”), the 39th International Eucharistic Congress was held in Bogotá, Colombia, Aug. 18–25, 1968, for which Pope Paul VI appointed Cardinal Giacomo Lercaro as papal legate.

On that occasion, the Archdiocese of Bogotá was headed by Cardinal Luis Concha Córdoba.

Although he appointed a representative, the pontiff visited Colombia from Aug. 22–25. During a Mass celebrated in Bogotá, Paul VI noted that the sacrament of the Eucharist offers men and women the “hidden, living, and real presence” of Jesus Christ.

During his visit to the Colombian capital, the pope also inaugurated the second General Conference of the Latin American Bishops, which would take place in Medellín.

Guadalajara 2004

Finally, the 48th International Eucharistic Congress — the fourth in Latin America — was held in Guadalajara, Mexico, under the theme “The Eucharist: Light and Life of the New Millennium.”

The congress took place Oct.10–17 during the pontificate of St. John Paul II, who appointed Cardinal Josef Tomko, then-president of the Pontifical Committee for Eucharistic Congresses, as papal legate.

At that time, the Archdiocese of Guadalajara was led by Cardinal Juan Sandoval Íñiguez.

One of the most popular events was the pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Zapopan, in which nearly 2.5 million pilgrims participated.

On the last day of the congress, from St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, Pope John Paul II inaugurated the Year of the Eucharist.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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Montreal, Canada, Mar 22, 2019 / 09:38 am (CNA).- A Catholic priest in Montreal is in stable condition after being stabbed during Friday morning Mass. One suspect has been taken into custody in connection with the attack.

Fr. Claude Grou, rector of St. Joseph’s Oratory, was celebrating Mass when the attacker ran from the back of the rectory and stabbed him in the chest, CBC News reported. Police were called at 8:40 am, about 10 minutes into Mass.

Adele Plamondon, an attendee at the Mass, told CBC News that the attacker “was very determined in what he wanted to do. He didn’t yell, he didn’t say anything. He just took out his knife.”

The stabbing was captured on video. St. Joseph’s Oratory is the largest church in Canada, and its daily Mass is broadcast live each morning.

The priest’s injuries were not severe, according to authorities. He was taken to a local hospital in an ambulance.

The Diocese on Montreal said on Twitter that Grou’s “health is stable,” adding, “All our prayers are with him.”

Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante called the attack “a horrible and inexcusable gesture that has no place in Montreal.”

The Archdiocese of Toronto tweeted, “We offers our prayers for the priest stabbed this morning at @diocesemontreal’s St. Joseph’s Oratory while celebrating Mass.”

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