An almost 90-year-old religious statue was destroyed in an El Paso, Texas cathedral on Tuesday, making it one of approximately 200 historical and religious statues vandalized over the last six months.
“I am in shock and we at the Cathedral are heartbroken over such an unexpected situation,” said the rector of St. Patrick Cathedral, Fr. Trini Fuentes.
“I am devastated at this irreplaceable loss as I know members of this parish community and the whole Church of El Paso will be. In this moment we will reach out in confidence to the One this statue represented and I know he will console us,” Bishop Mark J. Seitz added.
According to the Catholic Diocese of El Paso, the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue behind the altar was decapitated by a suspect who entered St. Patrick Cathedral during open prayer hours around 10 a.m.
“This statue is one of my favorite representations of Jesus—his arms open wide in welcome, his heart aflame with love for us. I would often take inspiration from this image as I prepared for Mass,” Seitz remarked.