Pastor ‘Frustrated’ After Man Attacks Statue of Mary at Jamaica Parish

JAMAICA — A man filled with rage repeatedly hurled paver stones at a historic statue of Mary early Tuesday morning at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish.

Surveillance video recorded the attack severed the hands and gouged the face of the statue at around 3 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24, according to the pastor, Father Victor Bolaños.

A New York Police Department spokesperson said Wednesday morning that no arrests had yet been made, but the incident was being investigated as a criminal mischief case.

“I am very frustrated,” Father Bolaños said. “It’s a beautiful face, a beautiful statue. Many people stop here to pray and to admire the beauty. Most people feel good when they see her.”

Father Bolaños was unsure if the marble statue could be repaired, but the parish would try to do so. He did not know its exact age, but he speculated it could be over 100 years.

It was posted for many years at Mary Immaculate Hospital, which opened in 1902 on 89th Street, a couple blocks from the parish. The hospital closed in 2009, but the statue got a new home at the parish, on the front lawn of the rectory facing Parsons Boulevard.

Also on the lawn is a statue of St. Michael the Archangel, but it was not vandalized on this occasion. However, its sword was damaged and replaced last year in a separate incident, according to the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Father Bolaños said he was at a meeting in New Jersey when he got a phone call from his parish that the statue had been damaged.

He returned to the rectory and spent hours reviewing the surveillance video footage before finding images of the attack.

Footage shows the perpetrator, who appears to be in his 20s or 30s, milling about in front of the rectory. The man is slight in build, bearded, and wearing a ballcap over thick, dark hair. He also wears a reddish T-shirt and dark-colored pants.

The man seems agitated as he paces about and angrily punches at the air. He then hops over a fence surrounding the lawn, grabs paver stones from the landscaping, and throws them at the statue.

Upon impact, the stones explode into puffs of concrete dust.

The suspect hops back over the fence and walks away from the scene. Traffic and pedestrians can be seen passing on Parsons Boulevard during the incident.

More parishioners on Wednesday were learning of the damaged statue and expressing sadness, Father Bolaños said.

“I don’t know what was in his mind,” he said of the attacker. “I hope he can be helped before he does something again.”

Father Bolaños lamented how statues are increasingly being desecrated in the Diocese of Brooklyn and throughout the U.S., especially after the pandemic. He added that irrational and aggressive behavior is becoming more common.

“The political atmosphere is very divisive,” he said. “We are in a new era.”

A plaque on the rectory’s front lawn relates that the statue was dedicated to Father Ignatius Zeller, the parish’s first pastor. His continued devotion to Mary inspired him to provide a hospital promoting Catholic values in Jamaica.

According to the plaque, the statue was also dedicated to the Sisters of St. Dominic and the hospital’s medical staff.

“I hope we can restore it,” Father Bolaños said. “It’s so beautiful. It’s history. And history is always important.”

The NYPD’s 103rd Precinct is investigating. Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Parishioners Unite to Restore St. Pancras After Fire

By Katie Vasquez

Where normally there are the sounds of bells, Tuesday night there was the sight and smell of smoke, after a fire broke out at St. Pancras in Glendale. But this church is still standing thanks to the quick work of its parishioners.

It was a call that these parishioners didn’t expect.

“She called me and said the church is on fire,” said Sandra Yankow, a parishioner at St. Pancras. “She said ‘I’m not seeing flames but I’m seeing a lot, a lot of smoke and I just started to pray.’

The shocking news that their beloved parish was on fire Tuesday night spreading from parishioner to parishioner.

“I thought I was gonna have a heart attack,” said Francesca Ferraro a parishioner at the church. “I said ‘it’s impossible.'”

Pastor Monsignor Steven Aguggia says it all started when a passerby called 911 around 11 o’clock, but not only did the firefighters respond, the parishioners also responded.

“What a great show of love they showed for their church,” Msgr. Aguggia said. “They expressed that they love our church, love our parish. They were here because of that love and I was so impressed by it.”

After the first responders stopped the flames, members of the community stayed until 2 a.m. cleaning up water left behind.

Wednesday morning, even though the church and rectory were still without power, the parish decided to celebrate Mass.

“We were very careful with the parishioners all safe and finding their seats and we set up some battery operated lights on the altar, so the mass could be celebrated,” Monsignor Aguggia said.

Their prayers in the dark powered by the light of Christ, and a faith-filled community whose fast work they believe saved their church from further damage.

“God was good, he answered all our prayers, We here,” Ferraro said.

“We pray for each other every single day no matter what’s going on,” Yankow said.

Knights of Columbus in Glendale are calling on the community to visit and look after the priests and staff here as restoration continues. An investigation is still underway for the official cause of this fire.

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday 9/25/2024

A quick response from firefighters and parishioners spared St. Pancras Church from severe damage after a bell tower fire; though the church lost power for several hours, Mass continued uninterrupted.

In Jamaica, authorities are investigating the desecration of a statue at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, where vandals damaged the hands and face early Tuesday morning.

At St. Gregory the Great Church in Bellerose, parishioners meet monthly to bond over faith and books, with one dedicated volunteer standing out for her deep, longstanding commitment to the community, making her this month’s Pulse of the Parish.

Pope Resumes Schedule After Resting Monday Because of Mild Flu-Like Condition

Pope Francis is back on schedule after a day of rest.

The Holy Father had canceled his scheduled audiences on Monday due to a mild flu-like condition, but today, he resumed his duties by meeting with the bishops of Mozambique.

They are in Rome for their “ad limina” visits, reporting on the status of their dioceses.

The Vatican Press Office stated that the 87-year-old pontiff rested on Monday as a precautionary measure ahead of his upcoming trip to Luxembourg and Belgium, scheduled for Thursday.

Harris Won’t Attend Fundraiser, Cardinal Dolan Says He is Disappointed But Hopeful

New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan expressed disappointment over the news that Vice President Kamala Harris will not be attending next month’s Al Smith Charity Dinner in Manhattan.

Instead, Harris’s campaign announced she will be campaigning in a battleground state on October 17th, just three weeks before the election.

Her opponent, former President Donald Trump, confirmed his attendance, calling it an honor to be part of the historic Catholic fundraiser.

Despite the news, Cardinal Dolan remains hopeful that the Vice President might still make an appearance.

The black-tie event is sold out, with an estimated 1,500 guests expected to attend.

The dinner is named after former New York Governor Al Smith, the first Catholic presidential nominee from a major party, who lost to Republican Herbert Hoover in 1928.

Missouri Supreme Court Refuses to Stop Execution

In Missouri, a death row inmate is facing execution after the state Supreme Court refused to halt it.

In 2001, Marcellus Williams was convicted of the 1998 stabbing death of a former newspaper reporter.

Williams has always maintained his innocence, and in a rare move, St. Louis’ top prosecutor filed a motion to vacate the conviction in January.

One of the reasons cited was that a prosecutor in the original trial admitted he rejected a potential juror because, like Williams, the juror was Black.

As of now, the only person who can stop the execution is Governor Michael Parson.

On Monday, the governor issued a statement saying he does not plan to intervene, citing 15 hearings that upheld Williams’ conviction.

Williams is scheduled to die by lethal injection Tuesday, Sept. 24.

Faith, Friends, and Fundamental Theology Make Up New Routine for a Day in the Life of a Seminarian

By Jessica Easthope

It’s easy to feel small while standing in the shadow of something so much bigger than yourself, but Elvis Toribio isn’t intimidated. He’s been preparing his whole life for this.

“Since I was, like, small, I always, like, felt the Lord calling me to be a priest,” Toribio, a seminarian at St. Joseph’s Seminary said. “I just really enjoyed being in church and always really enjoyed having everything to do with the church.”

Elvis is the youngest seminarian walking the halls of St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie. The history, legacy, and future of the seminary’s mission are now part of his journey to the priesthood.

“I’m getting used to the place already. It’s a big place,” Toribio said. “Not what I’m used to.”

With a full course load—Fundamental Theology, Canon Law, and Psychology, to name a few—Elvis is getting used to his classes, as well as what he wears to class.

“At first, it was a little weird just because of the new, like, change of clothing and all that. I’m used to just wearing, like, a regular polo,” Toribio said. “But now with the collar on, it feels kind of surreal. It just kind of makes the dream, you could call it, more real and present.”

Elvis, who was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to Queens Village in 2011, will spend the next four years studying at the seminary before becoming a transitional deacon. After that, he hopes to return to serve the same community that raised him as a priest, specifically ministering to the elderly and sick. He was inspired by seeing his grandmother’s faith grow in her last years.

“The church being close to her was also very comforting for her in her last few years,” Toribio said. “So I want to, like, lean into that and just give those people a little bit of hope.”

These days, Elvis finds hope of his own in the fellow future priests he sits with in class, as they become fast friends. It turns out priestly fraternity starts long before ordination.

“Having them around helps a lot. Having those connections and friendships has also helped a lot with transitioning. Getting to know each other just helps with that, coming out of ourselves and realizing that we’re not alone in this.”

In the classroom—and the cafeteria—Christ is everywhere, and Elvis has taken the first step in surrendering to his call. But for now, there’s a lot to learn—class starts at 8:30 a.m.

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday 9/24/2024

Step inside St. Joseph’s Seminary to see how a young seminarian begins his path to priesthood.

Pope Francis, recovered from flu-like symptoms, resumes meetings and prepares for his Luxembourg and Belgium trip.

At the St. Paul Seminary in Minnesota, seminarians are provided with an additional year of formation, uniquely focused on mental health and spiritual growth, ensuring their holistic development.

St. Athanasius Catholic Academy students celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with colorful costumes and lively dances, highlighting their diverse cultures.

Bishop Brennan Gave Homily For Student Mass at St. John’s University Celebration

Bishop Robert Brennan returned to his alma mater this week as part of a celebration of St. John’s University’s Founder’s Week.

The bishop gave the homily at Sunday’s student Mass at St. Thomas More Church on the Queens campus.

The Mass is part of a series of events celebrating the school’s Vincentian heritage.

Founder’s Week coincides with the September 27th feast day of Saint Vincent de Paul, from whose work the university draws its mission.

Bishop Brennan graduated with the Class of 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics.

He received an honorary Doctor of Sacred Theology in May of this year.

Centennial Celebration: Mass For Sister of Charity 100th Anniversary

A Centennial Celebration Mass for the Sisters of Charity was held Sunday at Resurrection-Ascension Parish in Rego Park.

The parish was selected for the 100th-anniversary event because some of the Sisters of Charity live in the convent and are active in the parish. However, the order first arrived at Our Lady of Angels in Brooklyn a century ago, and from there, they spread throughout Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island, opening schools and other ministries.

Today, the sisters serve in many social service and educational programs.

Bishop Brennan joined the congregation and expressed his gratitude for the presence and ministries of the Sisters of Charity in the Diocese of Brooklyn and beyond.