Virgin Mary Statue Beheaded at Catholic Church in California

CHINO (CBSLA) – A vandal appears to be targeting Catholic churches in Pomona Valley, with the most recent attack on a beloved statue at a Chino church.

“This is a place we come to feel safe, to feel God’s presence, to worship with our community,” said Marianne Hacker, pastoral administrator at Saint Margaret Mary’s Church.

She’s guarded the chapel for more than 50 years, the entire time the church has been in existence on Central Avenue in Chino.

“It brings people comfort,” Hacker said.

But on March 30, a vandal trespassed onto the property and delivered a blow that severed the statue in two.

The statue was decapitated on March 30. (credit: CBS)

“It’s like a clean cut,” Hacker said.

The damage made the church recall a strikingly similar crime at another local Catholic church.

“That’s why I’m thinking it was a sledgehammer like they used at Our Lady Lourdes,” Hacker said.

Just a month ago and three miles away in Montclair, a person was caught on camera hopping onto a planter at Our Lady Lourdes Catholic Church and using what appeared to be a sledgehammer to hack the heads off two of their statues.

“Definitely trying to make a statement,” Hacker said.

Saint Margaret Mary’s Church thinks the same person is responsible for both crimes, and now they wonder if the same person destroyed their double pane stained glass window last month.

“It’s a picture also of Mary that was just shattered by a huge, huge stone,” Hacker said.

Both churches say they don’t know why they were targeted, but they’re praying for the person who’s trying to hurt them.

“We’re always willing to forgive, and we’re always willing to help if there’s anger,” Hacker said.