Kidapawan Diocese mourns desecration of parish church

KIDAPAWAN CITY —The Diocese of Kidapawan has mourned the desecration of a parish church in M’lang town, after unidentified thieves robbed its tabernacle and dishonored the Blessed Sacrament.

In a decree issued on Monday, Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo directed the suspension of Masses and other sacramental celebrations at the Sta. Teresita del Niño Jesus Parish following the break-in incident on Oct. 25, where the consecrated hosts were taken out of the tabernacle and left on the sanctuary floor.

READ: Cotabato church suspends Masses after break-in, desecration of hostsThe bishop said the incident was not merely a property crime but a violation of the Catholic faith, which holds that the Eucharist is the body and blood of Jesus Christ.Under the decree, all Masses and sacramental rites inside the main church building will remain suspended until the church holds a formal penitential rite and Mass of Reparation.Weekday Masses will instead be celebrated at the Parish Formation House at their usual schedules, according to a letter issued by parish priest Rev. Fr. Edward Bacus.Bagaforo will preside over the Mass of Reparation at 5 p.m. on Oct. 31. During the ceremony, the parish church, altar, and a new tabernacle will be blessed with holy water before regular parish services resume.The bishop also directed the parish priest to remove the flowers, decorative lights, and other customary decorations from the main altar as a sign of mourning and penance.If fragments of the consecrated hosts remain, they must be gathered reverently, dissolved in water and poured into the sacrarium, according to the decree.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: EXPLAINER: Why desecrated churches have to be closed indefinitelyThe parish has been instructed to cooperate fully with law enforcement authorities investigating the robbery.Bagaforo also called on parishioners to observe a period of prayer, fasting and spiritual sacrifice, and encouraged them to participate in the Way of the Cross and pray the Rosary for the conversion of those responsible.In his letter to parishioners, Bacus said thieves had broken into the church and robbed the tabernacle. He asked the community to remain focused on prayer and the parish’s spiritual restoration amid the incident.The diocese said the church building may be used only for preaching, religious instruction and spiritual preparation for the rite of reparation while the suspension remains in effect.Lt. Col. Realan Mamon, M’lang police chief, said a parish worker discovered the incident early Monday morning.

The M’lang police are checking CCTV recordings inside the church and its surroundings to identify the suspects./coa