Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) / X
CV NEWS FEED // Vandals destroyed approximately $20,000 worth of property at St. Mary the Immaculate Conception Church in Michigan City, Indiana, Thanksgiving morning.
ABC 7 reported that the vandal or vandals destroyed one of the front doors, sprayed a fire extinguisher all over the church, shattered a statue of St. Joseph, and left a hole in one of the stained glass windows.
“It was interesting that it happened on Thanksgiving morning,” said Fr. Zach Glick, associate pastor. “Personally, I think it helped us appreciate what we have to be thankful for more.”
Many believe that the statue of St. Joseph is an original piece of art from the formation of the parish, which was established in 1867.
“If you think about a statue that’s been in a church for well over 100 years, the amount of devotion, the affection, the prayers that have gone up to heaven through the intercession of St. Joseph, it really is a loss for the community,” said Fr. David Kime, the pastor.
After the incident, Masses were held at nearby Queen of All Saints, another worship site that is part of the same parish, after it merged with St. Mary the Immaculate Conception in September. Masses were set to resume Dec. 9 at Immaculate Conception.
As of Dec. 2, there is no information on the suspect, and the investigation is still in its beginning stages, according to Michigan City police.
Fr. Kime is encouraging parishioners to pray for the vandal.
“If we responded with just anger and blind rage, then we’re missing the whole point of why this church is here,” he said, “which is to reach out specifically to a person like that, and to tell that person, ‘You’re loved by God.'”
