A “disgusting” vandal tore down a statue of Blessed Mary outside a Catholic church in Queens this week, police said.
The Diocese of Brooklyn said the vandal used a rock to desecrate the statue in front of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Parsons Boulevard in Jamaica around 3:15 a.m. Tuesday.
“The man picked up a rock from the parish garden and began striking the statue repeatedly, damaging the face, sides and hands of the statue of the Blessed Mother.” The diocese said in a statement on Friday,
“Hands, which were in prayer position, were found on the ground near the statue,” it said.
“Mary is the source of humility, charity and love. Because there are people in this world who oppose these qualities, there are also some who are troubled by them. It is necessary to pray for this person and for all those who have been deceived by the evil one, so that they may see the love of God. Father Victor M. Bolanos, the church’s pastor, said, “Then they can lose their anger toward humble, charitable and lovely things.”
It is unclear whether the statue can be repaired, the diocese said, adding that parishioners are “deeply saddened and disappointed” by the “disgusting act of vandalism.”
The statue was gifted to the parish by Mary Immaculate Hospital at the time of its closing in 2009.
Police are asking for the public’s help in locating the suspect and have released a photo and a surveillance clip.
There is no arrest.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Is. The public can also submit their suggestions by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ Or on Twitter @NYPDTips.
In a separate incident last year, the sword of the statue of St. Michael the Archangel was damaged and was replaced at the parish.
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