FRESH MEADOWS — The Holy Family Parish community can begin to heal, now that their statue of the Child Jesus, left decapitated in a hate crime last month, has been repaired. Remnants of the damage to the statue, which sits just feet away from the church’s doors, can now barely be seen.
Michael Nicholas, a restorationist with Cave Company, the supplier of ecclesiastical products and services organization that performed the repair, said the Child Jesus statue, positioned between those of Mother Mary and Joseph, is now reinforced with an aluminum rod, making it stronger than before.
“I can’t explain the feeling that we’re able to come and do repairs, especially when it comes to vandalism, which is so senseless,” Nicholas said. “It makes me feel good that I’m able to actually come and do these repairs.”
He said it took less than three hours for the head of the statue to be refitted onto its body, adding that it brought him joy knowing that he could play a part in bringing the church congregation back to life.
Restoration included fitting the aluminum rod inside the statue’s head, with material specifically chosen so it would not rust. It was then screwed into the body of the statue, and resin was used to fill in the cracks along where the head was removed.
The statue of Jesus was first built by Cave Company over 40 years ago, according to third-generation company owner Gregory Cave. He explained that it was originally made of resin fiberglass, which made for a seamless fix. After sanding down and spray painting the statue, little evidence of the vandalism attack remains.
While he was there, Nicholas also restored a destroyed finger of the statue of Jesus, even though that was not believed to have been damaged in the vandalism attack. In total, the repair cost approximately $3,000, he said.
“I got chills. His head is back on. We can come here, and we can feel a little bit more peace,” said Holy Family parishioner Carolann Foley.
Foley, the president of the 107th Precinct Community Council, has been a parishioner at Holy Family for about 30 years. She was at the church the morning after the statue was attacked, and seeing it repaired now brings tears to her eyes.
A man has been charged with criminal mischief as a hate crime for the attack, which took place in the early hours of June 30. Jamshaid Choudhry, 44, was arrested on July 11 and charged the following day. He faces five to 15 years if convicted and is set to return to court on Aug. 1.
“Let’s hope that it’ll go somewhere so that people learn that they just can’t do this. This is disgraceful,” Foley said.
According to the Queens District Attorney, police investigators say that video surveillance footage captured the vandal’s attack. It showed him exiting a yellow cab parked across the street, coming up to the church, taking off his shoe, and hitting the statue with it.
“Thank God the police caught him,” said Holy Family’s pastor, Father Sean Suckiel.
Father Suckiel “hopes justice will be served” and that Choudhry is convicted for the attack. His parishioners share this sentiment.
“We definitely forgive him. We know that he is a broken man, and hopefully this will be a life-changing experience for him in a good way,” he added.