Monday, November 08, 2010

Historic chalices stolen from Waterford church

Chalices with a huge sentimental value to a County Waterford Church were stolen on Halloween night, October 31.  

The Church of the Immaculate Conception (pictured) in Fenor in Waterford was the victim of the crime, which saw a safe containing two chalices, two ciboria, and a monstrance, all of which have been in the church for hundreds of years, taken from the church safe. 

Speaking this week to the local Waterford News and Star newspaper, the parish administrator Fr Paul Murphy said, “The episode has been very upsetting and distressing for parishioners and many were shocked to hear that these items have been stolen from the house of God.” 

He also said, “The items are of huge sentimental value to us.  People donated them over generations and they are priceless and irreplaceable to us and we are anxious to get them back.” 

“Despite reinforced security measures at the church it has been broken into for the second time in the past year.” 

It is believed that thieves gained entry to the church via a stained glass window.  

Local Gardaí say that thieves may have removed the safe in the mistaken belief there was money in it and are appealing for the return of the chalices that are of little value to anybody except the church.

SIC: CIN/IE