Vandal damages century-old statue at Brooklyn Catholic church, leaving parishioners shocked

A heartless vandal snuck up to an historic Brooklyn Catholic church in the middle of the night and smashed two statues — including one that is nearly 100 years old, authorities said.The damage at St.

Therese of Lisieux Roman Catholic Church on Ave.D in Brooklyn includes a statue of the Virgin Mary and one of the church’s namesake that had been in place since the house of worship’s founding in 1926, church pastor Father Liju Augustine told The Post.

“A lot of people ask me, ‘Father don’t you feel angry?’ No I don’t feel angry at all,” Augustine said.“But I’m saddened because when you look at the history of the statue, the statue is almost 90 .

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99 years old.The first time the church was erected here the statue was also erected.“It is sacred, but that sacredness should not be affecting my faith,” he said.

“It’s hurting, but I cannot turn my feelings of frustration, my feelings of pain and the struggle into anger.Anger doesn’t bring any changes in my life and if I’m angry, it’s easy for me to instigate my people in that anger.”According to police, the culprit broke the statues around 4:30 a.m.

Tuesday before running.Surveillance video and a photograph released by the department shows a thin individual walking along the sidewalk wearing olive or grey pants, a print shirt and an orange scar over their head — and occasionally taking a puff from a cigarette or joint.The Virgin Mary statue was left with the right hand knocked off and cracks along the base and the left hand, while the cross on the St.

Therese of Lisieux statue was knocked off lay on the ground.Augustine said the damage was discovered by the church custodian before morning mass.“I explained to my people,” the pastor said.

“They listened to me very patiently and that’s a beauty.I brought everybody together here, and we prayed the beautiful prayer of Saint Michael, protect us from evil, and we pray together to forgive the people who have done this.

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