A vandal or vandals spray painted anti-Catholic markings over
two images of the Virgin Mary in the chapel of St. Mary Church
about 12 p.m. Friday.
A vandal or vandals spray painted anti-Catholic markings over two images of the Virgin Mary in the chapel of St. Mary Church about 12 p.m. Friday.
A woman who ducked into the chapel about 12:30 p.m. for a few quiet minutes of prayer discovered the sacrilegious vandalism and reported it to parish staff.
“My stomach turned,” said Liturgical Director Rose Barry. “I started to cry. It made me sick to my stomach.”
As people walked into the chapel, the two words of profanity painted in lettering over a foot tall on an image of the Virgin hanging over the alter stopped them in their tracks.
“To write such a horrible thing on our patron …” Barry said, her voice trailing off.
Restoring the painting, which depicts the assumption of Mary, could cost more than $7,000, Barry estimated. About five years ago, the parish had the painting restored at a price of $7,200.
The vandal or vandals also spray painted numerals “666” and an upside down cross on a glass and wooden case holding an image of the Virgen de Juquila, a gift from parish members of Oaxacan descent.
Church staff hung a sheet over the bottom portion of the painting to cover the profanity and, with a bit of paint thinner, were able to remove the graffiti from the glass case.
Police took a report and dusted for fingerprints but Barry said people come in and out of the chapel all the time.
The chapel is open from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and staff are deciding how to deal with the vandalism. Barry said they are considering installing security cameras or putting Plexiglas over some of the works of art.
Before another act of vandalism in December, the chapel used to be open later. The parish began locking up at 4 p.m. when a vandal blacked out the faces of four statues and tried to steal the tabernacle.
Parish staff also reported frequent vehicle burglaries on cars parked in the parish parking lot and gang graffiti carved into some of the pews.
“This seems anti-Christian,” Barry said, gesturing to the painting. “That’s sure how it feels.”
