The doors of the chapel at the Carmelite Monastery in Auckland have been locked after the second theft of statues in just four months. On Friday a man entered the monastery and stole two small statues from the shop area – one a porcelain statue of Mary, and another of St Michael the Archangel. He Read more
American and British publications, including Britain’s Daily Express and New York’s Daily News, have been chasing the story of sister Johanna Penn after the Carmelite sister turned amateur sleuth to recover two stolen statues. A large statue of the Sacred Heart along with a Little Infant of Prague statue, were seen being carried out of Read more
On Wednesday the Police revealed thieves had broken in to Mt Eden Presbyterian Church at 31 Esplanade Rd on February 12 and taken the 10 heavy wooden pews. Police called the “burglary” an “unusual” crime and asked anyone who had seen any suspicious activity near the church between February 12 and February 17 to get Read more
A fragment from what is believed to be the True Cross of Christ, has been stolen from a church in California. Dominican Father Michael Hurley, pastor of St. Dominic’s Church in San Francisco told CNA. “We just want it back.” Catholic tradition holds that St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, found the Cross during Read more
Irreplaceable century-old vestments have been stolen from St Peter’s Anglican Church in Willis St, Wellington. The vestments were more than 100 years old and have significant meaning to the central city church. The items are very distinctive and would be of little value to anyone outside the church, police said. They include matched sets of Read more
Items stolen from a church in Geraldine last month have been recovered, with some found scattered in a river in the Waimate district. Opihi parish property manager David Attwood said some of the items recovered had to be fished out of a river and that some had been damaged. A statue of an angel, a procession Read more
Geraldine’s Catholic parishioners are reeling after their historic church was “desecrated” by thieves overnight on Saturday. Thieves entered through the main doors of the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception on Peel St, by forcing them open. A gold chalice, a small silver cyborium (plate) (sic), crystal vessels with communion wine in them and a Read more
Another Catholic church has been attacked by thieves. A five-foot high (152cm) brass candle holder, St Mary’s church in Carterton last weekend. Church lay pastoral leader Sharron Penny said the candlestick had been in the church for “generations” and was an important part of the church’s liturgy and heritage. Penney said the candlestick was used Read more