There was a range of emotions as Bishop Robert Brennan blessed and rededicated the statue outside of Holy Family Church in Fresh Meadows on Sunday.
“It still kind of aches at our hearts that the damage was even done, that somebody would deliberately take upon themselves this act of violence, this act of destruction just to show hatred to the faith,” Bishop Brennan said.
A man was caught on video smashing the statue of Jesus back in June, which had stood for 42 years in front of this church.
But Bishop Brennan said that while there is sorrow, there is also resilience.
“The reconstruction of that statue is really a testament to that resilience and depth of faith and love that is here,” Bishop Brennan said.
The reconstruction was underway less than a month after the statue was desecrated, at a cost of around $3,000.
During a mass celebrated by the bishop, Holy Family’s pastor, Father Sean Suckiel, said he hopes the statue stands for another 42-plus years.
“Praise God our statue has been repaired and is looking beautiful,” Father Suckiel said.
Police arrested 44-year-old Jamshaid Choudhry less than two weeks after the statue was vandalized.
He’s been charged with a hate crime.