Whoever trashed St. Margaret Mary Church was trying to break its spirit, but that is not going to happen, its parishioners and lead priest say.
Some time before Monday morning, vandals poured oil on the pews and carpet, smashed statues and tore a Jesus statue down from his cross so hard both arms broke. But the church has held mass and a weekend wedding is going to proceed.
Parishioners sprang into action almost immediately, cleaning the pews and the Bingo Hall and meticulously matching and re-gluing heads and hands onto half a dozen wooden statues.
"We can't believe the outpouring of the people," said Acting Administrator Rev. John Stronkowski, who rededicated the church before the next morning mass.
"The spirit has grown," he said, noting that the church, which has 1,000 families, turned 50 this year and its membership is growing.
It will take some time to replace the $4,000 statue of Mary, which was less than two years old when it was smashed before Monday. Today it may cost $6,000.
Insurance money will cover some of the damage, but all the carpets will need to be replaced and walls need repainting from the oil poured everywhere. Oil was also poured into the Bingo machine, which will cost $10,000 to replace.
Two cars also had paint poured on them. Stronkowski has estimated the damage so far at $40,000 and expects it to rise.
Monetary donations for the cleanup can made at the church, 380 Long Hill Ave.
If you would like to help in other ways, send an email to the church at stmamar380@yahoo.com.
No arrests have been made in the case, but "police are working diligently," said Stronkowski said.
In the long run, "It was all stuff that's replaceable," one parishioner said. "If anything, [the vandals] brought us together."
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