Hosts are scattered and image of Mary is attacked in a church in SP

The Matriz de Sete Barras church, in the interior of São Paulo, was the target of yet another vandalism attack, in the early hours of Monday (2).

During the incident, a person invaded the place, opened the tabernacle with the consecrated hosts and spread them across the floor. Images of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Saint John the Baptist were thrown and broken with a pickaxe. The thieves also stole money and vandalized priestly clothes.

This is the second time that the church has been invaded and vandalized, in less than two years. The crime was discovered around 6:30 in the morning.

“I just entered the church and look at the vandalism that happened, they took our images, desecrated our tabernacle again, broke down the door once again, broke our images”, said with sadness Father Francisco Rodrigues da Rocha Neto, responsible for local, in a video distributed on social media.

In a note sent to the community and neighboring churches, the priest recalled the seriousness of the action for Catholics. “Sacrilege is a serious sin, especially when it is committed against the Eucharist, since in this sacrament it is the body of Christ itself that becomes substantially present to us.”

The vandalized images have a special value for the community. The sculpture representing Saint John the Baptist has been in place for over 80 years. The saint is the city’s patron saint and gives its name to the main church. The image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the subject of special devotion among parishioners and has been in the church for over 120 years.

The parish will have a Mass of retribution for the actions of the criminals next Sunday (8). The celebration begins at 4 pm, with a procession.

The Public Security Secretariat of the State of São Paulo reported that the Civil Police is investigating the case, which was registered as a theft and outrage of worship at the municipal police station.