Category: News affecting the Church

Vandals damage 244-year-old church site

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A church building that was constructed in the United States when the country was still a British colony has been damaged by vandals.

Mission San Juan Capistrano, located in California, was built in 1776 by Spanish Catholic missionaries. It was the 7th of 21 Spanish missions built in California according to the Mission’s website. Church officials Friday said someone had tagged the historic structure with graffiti.  Officials have not yet said if the vandalism was a random act or if the mission was targeted.

The mission has been temporarily closed until further notice.

“Mission San Juan Capistrano remains committed to preserving the religious and historical significance of the site,” says a post on the mission’s Facebook page. 

‘What is real will prosper’ Vandals tag church building with secularist graffiti

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Jeff Turner – Music Reporter

A congregation in Louisiana is cleaning up after it was targeted by vandals who used spray paint to leave secularist messages inside and outside of the church building.

A spokesperson for the Lafourche Parish, Louisiana Sheriff’s Office said the vandalism was found on Dec. 7, 2020 at St. Louis Catholic Church. The criminal or criminals are believed to have done the damage sometime the evening of Dec. 5 and the morning of Dec. 6. The spokesperson said a reward of up to $1,000 is offered for information leading to an arrest.

No other information has been released.

Worship continues in wake of vandal’s mess

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A New Jersey congregation says worship services will go on as planned in spite of damage vandals caused to the church sanctuary this week.

Pipes were ripped out of the church organ and debris scattered around the pulpit of the First United Methodist Church of Freehold.

“We will not let this crush our spirits! Please join me in praying for our Trustees as they work to fix this issue. May we also pray for the person(s) desperate enough to commit this crime,” says a message on the church’s Facebook page.

A church spokesperson said it appears someone was trying to steal pipes from the organ, but only damaged the instrument.  They were unsuccessful in stealing anything.

Massachusetts man awaits trial for setting two fires inside church building

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Prosecutors in Greenfield, Massachusetts are preparing their case for the trial of a man accused of setting two fires inside a Catholic Church building last year.

Trevor J. Defrancesco, 21, was arraigned in Franklin County Superior Court Thursday for an Oct. 19, 2019 fire at Our Lady Immaculate Church in Athol, Mass., according to a report in the Greenfield Recorder. Prosecutors have not said what they believe to be his motive.

A report filed by WHDH television shortly after the fire says the building sustained only moderate damage.

Texas man replaces tools and supplies stolen from missionaries

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Missionaries restoring a Texas church building are back at work making repairs to a sanctuary destroyed by Tropical Storm Imelda.  Repair work stopped last week after a thief stole thousands of dollars’ worth of tools and supplies.

An Orange County, Texas Sheriff’s Office spokesperson told Texas Gospel Canada that volunteers with Mission America Placement Service were restoring the building of the Mauriceville Assembly of God Church.  Someone climbed a wall to get inside the damaged structure and left with the volunteer’s property. 12News reports at least $8,000 worth of equipment was taken in the theft.

The criminal act stopped the volunteer’s work for a short while.  Reconstruction was able to continue thanks to a Business man in the community. KOGT Radio in Orange, Texas reports Chad Havens, who owns Bridgefield Electric, saw a news report about the theft.  He contacted the group and bought new tools and supplies to replace what was taken.

Deputies have not yet identified a suspect.