Attack at a Catholic Church in Ohio with Extensive Damage and the Priest Calls for a Mass of Reparation - Immaculate Conception Church in Willoughby
A Priest has called for a Mass of Reparation after an attack at a Catholic Church in Ohio. There was extensive damage at the Immaculate Conception Church in Willoughby, Ohio. An intoxicated 30-year-old Painesville man caused extensive damage at Immaculate Conception Church in Willoughby, police say.
The Willoughby Police Department released, at about 2 a.m. on August 12, units responded to the church. A man inside the church holding a broken shovel handle who appeared to be bleeding from his right hand.
According to the police, the man was highly intoxicated and was taken into custody after running out of the church. He was later identified as 30-year-old Eric Randall Beck of Painesville. He is not a member of the church. According to the release, the man gained entry by accessing the 24/7 open chapel. He caused damage to the chapel area and then was able to get into the main area of the church.
Multiple areas of the church including the altar and the candle stand were damaged and a trail of blood was visible, according to the release. He attempted to light a fire on the carpet leading up to the altar by pouring hand sanitizer on it.
A large statue of the Virgin Mary outside the church was knocked over and damaged.
The suspect was charged with felony breaking and entering, vandalism and arson with additional charges forthcoming, according to the release.
The pastor Fr. Michael J. Troha wrote:
A large statue of the Virgin Mary outside the church was knocked over and damaged.
The suspect was charged with felony breaking and entering, vandalism and arson with additional charges forthcoming, according to the release.
The pastor Fr. Michael J. Troha wrote:
It was a busy week with all of the fallout from the desecration of
our church building that took place in the early hours of last Saturday morning. The perpetrator was apprehended by the
Willoughby police while he was feeing from the church.
The perpetrator was arraigned this past Monday in Willoughby Municipal
Court. The Diocesan Insurance Office was on the scene on Monday. The major expense from the damage to the church will be
replacing the existing carpet in the church. The religious objects and stained
glass windows that were damaged will be replaced.
Three of the local TV news
crews were also on the scene this past Monday. I hope that their presentation
of the news allowed people to know what happened to us.
I had notified the Bishop’s staff on Saturday morning about the break-in and
vandalism inside and outside the church. I also had sent an email to Fr. Don
Oleksiak, the Moderator of the Curia, and he informed the Bishop of what had
taken place that morning. Bishop Malesic determined that the acts that took
place in the church were a desecration due to the violent nature of the acts. Fr.
Gary Yanus, who is the Judicial Vicar, informed me late Saturday evening that
Bishop Malesic had delegated me to perform a Mass of reparation that should
be done before any other liturgical acts could take place in the church. He said
that due to the late hour I could do the reparation prayers at a prayer service.
So Father McNeil and I went over to the church and did the reparation service
and we sprinkled holy water throughout the church.
Our church is sacred space. It is a holy place just like the shrines in the Holy Land or Saint Peter’s Basilica, or the Basilicas in Fatma Portugal or Lourdes France. Our church is where we meet Jesus in the Sacraments. It is where we come to talk to God in prayer. We as Catholics are called to do reparation for our own sins and the sins of others. The desecration of the church is a grave mater which calls for reparation.
I have scheduled a Mass of reparation for August 26th, next Saturday morning at 8:00 am in our church. This Mass will provide all of us with an opportunity to join in the act of reparation in the best way possible. I also ask all of you to do penance on Friday, August 25th, as part of the reparation. We are asked by the Church to do penance every Friday either by abstaining from meat on Fridays, or, choosing another penance to do on Fridays. So do make an effort to join us in abstaining from meat or choosing another penance of you own this coming Friday.
Our church is sacred space. It is a holy place just like the shrines in the Holy Land or Saint Peter’s Basilica, or the Basilicas in Fatma Portugal or Lourdes France. Our church is where we meet Jesus in the Sacraments. It is where we come to talk to God in prayer. We as Catholics are called to do reparation for our own sins and the sins of others. The desecration of the church is a grave mater which calls for reparation.
I have scheduled a Mass of reparation for August 26th, next Saturday morning at 8:00 am in our church. This Mass will provide all of us with an opportunity to join in the act of reparation in the best way possible. I also ask all of you to do penance on Friday, August 25th, as part of the reparation. We are asked by the Church to do penance every Friday either by abstaining from meat on Fridays, or, choosing another penance to do on Fridays. So do make an effort to join us in abstaining from meat or choosing another penance of you own this coming Friday.
https://immaculate.net/news/bulletin/1816-august-20-2023/file
and News-herald
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