Vandalism strikes two Burlington County parishes
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
Police continue to investigate reported acts of vandalism occurring on the grounds of two southern Burlington County parishes the evening of July 14.
The incidents took place at St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton, where two statues were vandalized, and in the rosary garden at Our Lady of Fatima Cistercian Monastery, Mount Laurel, where more than 30 statues, incurred damaged. The Cistercian priests also staff St. John Neumann Parish, which is located on the same property as the monastery.
At St. Joan of Arc Parish, the nose of a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was broken and the head and wing of a dove (that the Blessed Mother held) was smashed. Also vandalized was a sword tip that was carried by a statue of St. Joan of Arc. The estimated damage is about $5,000.
Evesham Township police said that several St. Joan of Arc parishioners, who were leaving choir practice around 9:30 p.m., reported seeing a suspicious man shortly before the two statues were damaged.
On the same night, damage to the more than 30 statues in the Cistercian Monastery’s rosary garden was said to have occurred between 8 and 9 p.m. The damage consisted of broken arms, hands, faces and angel wings. The statues are life-sized marble sculptures that were imported from Rome about 25 years ago. The preliminary estimate of the damage exceeds $50,000.
As of press time, police are seeking a thin white man, in his late 20s or early 30s, about six feet tall and with shoulder-length, wavy brown hair. The man was driving an older-model tan or beige sedan, believed to be an import, with square tail lights. Police believe the vandal used a chisel-like tool to break off pieces of the statue.
The two Burlington County parish incidents were preceded by incidents of vandalism taking place outside four Catholic churches in Cherry Hill in the Diocese of Camden.
Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call the Mount Laurel police at 856-234-8300 or 856-234-1414, ext. 599; Evesham police at 856-983-1116 or 856-983-4699, or Cherry Hill police at 856-488-7828.
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Police continue to investigate reported acts of vandalism occurring on the grounds of two southern Burlington County parishes the evening of July 14.
The incidents took place at St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton, where two statues were vandalized, and in the rosary garden at Our Lady of Fatima Cistercian Monastery, Mount Laurel, where more than 30 statues, incurred damaged. The Cistercian priests also staff St. John Neumann Parish, which is located on the same property as the monastery.
At St. Joan of Arc Parish, the nose of a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was broken and the head and wing of a dove (that the Blessed Mother held) was smashed. Also vandalized was a sword tip that was carried by a statue of St. Joan of Arc. The estimated damage is about $5,000.
Evesham Township police said that several St. Joan of Arc parishioners, who were leaving choir practice around 9:30 p.m., reported seeing a suspicious man shortly before the two statues were damaged.
On the same night, damage to the more than 30 statues in the Cistercian Monastery’s rosary garden was said to have occurred between 8 and 9 p.m. The damage consisted of broken arms, hands, faces and angel wings. The statues are life-sized marble sculptures that were imported from Rome about 25 years ago. The preliminary estimate of the damage exceeds $50,000.
As of press time, police are seeking a thin white man, in his late 20s or early 30s, about six feet tall and with shoulder-length, wavy brown hair. The man was driving an older-model tan or beige sedan, believed to be an import, with square tail lights. Police believe the vandal used a chisel-like tool to break off pieces of the statue.
The two Burlington County parish incidents were preceded by incidents of vandalism taking place outside four Catholic churches in Cherry Hill in the Diocese of Camden.
Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call the Mount Laurel police at 856-234-8300 or 856-234-1414, ext. 599; Evesham police at 856-983-1116 or 856-983-4699, or Cherry Hill police at 856-488-7828.
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