A migrant woman prays in front of an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe at a migrant shelter in McAllen, Texas, run by Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley. / Credit: Peter Pinedo/CNA
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 19, 2024 / 18:16 pm (CNA)…. […]
F*** religion,’ ‘Satans watching,’ ‘666,’ and an upside down cross were drawn on the side of Annunciation Catholic School in Denver in June. / Annunciation Catholic Church
Boston, Mass., Jul 19, 2023 / 14:20 pm (CNA).
Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in northeast El Paso, Texas, was vandalized on July 17.
The parish did not release information about the vandalism, citing an ongoing investigation by the El Paso Police Department.
“The Most Holy Trinity Catholic Community and Diocese of El Paso [wish] to thank our local law enforcement for their attention in regard to this matter. We ask for your prayers for all involved as we continue to work with law enforcement on this matter,” the church said in a Facebook post Monday.
According to the El Paso Times, a police unit that investigates hate crimes is on the case.
A month ago, on June 16, two vandals were caught on camera drawing anti-Catholic graffiti on the walls of Annunciation Catholic School in Denver.
“F*** religion,” “Satans watching,” “666,” and an upside-down cross were drawn on the side of the school building.
Father Charles Polifka, OFM Cap, pastor of the school’s affiliated church, told CNA Wednesday that his message to the vandals is one of “forgiveness.”
“So many people are not getting the message of what we teach or they’re not getting a message of the Gospel at all,” he said.
“They’re not getting a message of peace. They’re not getting a message of reconciliation or anything like that. It’s all violence that they’re getting. They’re getting it from their music, they’re getting it from everywhere except from the church,” he said.
“And I think that’s what causes it,” he added.
“There’s no doubt about giving them forgiveness. I was often thinking that the police statues are going to be justice. But if we get ahold of you, it’s going to be mercy,” he said.
In July, two arrests were made in separate incidents of vandalism at Catholic churches in the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York.
Another attack on a Catholic church in Miami occurred in early June, resulting in the arrest of a 44-year-old woman who allegedly spray-painted the words “perverts,” “pigs,” “liars,” and an upside-down cross on the church wall, a sign, and columns within the courtyard of the church’s school.
In May, a 41-year-old woman was arrested and charged in connection with causing more than $78,000 in damages in an arson attack at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines, Illinois.
CNA Staff, Apr 12, 2021 / 11:11 am America/Denver (CNA).
A Catholic priest of the diocese of El Paso who went missing last week has been found safe. The diocese reported Fat… […]
El Paso, Texas, Feb 15, 2021 / 05:48 pm (CNA).- A west Texas parish has restored a century-old statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus after it was vandalized and nearly destroyed last September. Shock and sadness brought together donors from all over the country who felt compelled to pray a
The Diocese of El Paso issued a statement on Feb. 11 announcing the statue’s return.
“There was an outpouring of grief when the St. Patrick Cathedral Sacred Heart statue was vandalized last fall. Shock and sadness brought together donors from all over the country who felt compelled to pray and to give. Today, the statue is restored and making its way back to St. Patrick Cathedral,” the diocese said.
The statue had been present at the cathedral since shortly after the dedication ceremony took place in 1917.
In September 2020, a vandal entered the cathedral’s sanctuary and decapitated the statue, which had been placed behind the main altar of the church. A 30-year-old man was charged with criminal mischief for the vandalism.
Mass was not taking place at the time of the vandalism, but the church was open for prayer.
At the time, the diocese expressed doubt that the broken pieces of the statue were possible to restore.
However, the statue was subsequently sent to Daprato Rigali Studios for repair. The Daprato brothers had made the original statue.
Elizabeth Rigali, director of art and design for the studio, said it was an honor to repair the statue, according to the diocese.
As part of the restoration process, the company had to reinforce the head, body, and base of the statue. They also had to sculpt a new hand, arm, and face.
“So many members of the faithful had looked to the Sacred Heart, his arms open wide in welcome, for over 100 years during some of the most joyful and challenging times in their lives, and the thought of its destruction and possible replacement was difficult to accept,” the diocese said.
The donations have been handled by the diocese’s Catholic Foundation. More than $38,000 was donated to support the statue’s restoration and shipping costs, as well as repair of the altar which was also damaged. Some of the funding will also be used to upgrade the cathedral’s security system.
“[The Catholic Foundation] extends its sincere appreciation to all who contributed in any amount and prayed for the statue’s restoration and safe return, especially the St. Patrick Cathedral community and leadership. Once again, the Diocese of El Paso came together in faith to overcome pain and obstacles from a place of compassion and forgiveness. Plans to welcome the Sacred Heart back home are underway and we’ll share more news when we have it,” the diocese said.
© Catholic World Report