To the distress and fury of the devout, one or more unauthorized persons broke into a Catholic church in Brazil and destroyed all 28 saint statues.
The assault happened on October 10 at midday at the So Mateus church in the town of So Mateus do Sul, which is in the southern Brazilian state of Paraná.
At a news conference on October 11, the parish’s priest, Father José Carlos Emanoel dos Santos, said, “Our statues were shattered, but our faith is steadfast.”
The priest expressed his gratitude for all of the show of support they have gotten.
Our Lady of the Assumption and the Sacred Heart of Jesus were two of the pictures that were destroyed.
The priest emphasized that other “evangelical brothers” had submitted letters denouncing the vandalism, which they had appreciated.
whomever deleted the photographs “closed the doors to conduct this crime and left just one side door open via which he presumably fled,” according to Father Diego Ronaldo Nakalski, parish vicar.
“Seeing everything destroyed gave the impression that we were at war. The visuals allude to something more significant, something heavenly. The priest mourned, “When the people saw them shattered, the emotion was of very deep anguish, horrible.
It was also mentioned during the news conference that the neighborhood police already had a suspect.
Bishop Walter Jorge Pinto expressed his faith in “God and we hope that such a person will be suitably held accountable for the deeds he has perpetrated and that other acts similar to this won’t happen again” in a statement released by the Diocese of Unio da Vitoria and uploaded on Facebook.
The bishop bemoaned, “We are seeing the growth of all sorts of conflicts via the hate that separates people, particularly utilizing social media, around the globe and even in Brazil, especially in this election season.
This, he said, “only helps evil develop, isolates the people, prevents conversation, and teaches us to perceive in those who believe differently from us an enemy that must be combated at all costs.”
He remarked, “I implore everyone not to allow themselves be touched by sentiments other than the feelings of those who are real followers of Jesus Christ. I am the bishop of this segment of the people of God, especially those who dwell in So Mateus do Sul.”
The bishop continued, “May God be with our people of So Mateus at this difficult time, with whom we hope to be together soon for a holy act of prayer and restitution for the injustice done and experienced.”
On October 11, Pinto was to deliver a Mass of Reparation, during which the altars of the saints whose statues were damaged would be consecrated.