St. Mary’s Neillsville vandalized
For Hub City Times
NEILLSVILLE – St. Mary’s Parish of Neillsville and Neillsville police are looking for leads in the Feb. 28 vandalism of the church at 1813 River Road.
“The damage, which was discovered (the following) morning, was limited to the interior of the church,” said Father Varkey V. Joseph. “Most of the statuary was destroyed. The police were called immediately and are continuing their investigation.
“We are saddened that our church was desecrated and the sanctuary was violated. Crimes committed in a church affect and do injury to the entire Christian community, which the church building in a sense symbolizes and represents. St. Mary’s is a house of prayer and we ask people to pray for the perpetrators so that the Lord may give them the grace for conversion.”
There were no injuries in the incident. Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call the church at 715-743-3840.
The public is invited to participate in a vigil for the desecration led by Diocese of La Crosse Bishop William Patrick Callahan during the March 2 mass at 5 p.m.