Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 10, 2022 / 21:37 pm
The pastor of a Catholic parish in Bethesda, Maryland, gave a powerful testimony Sunday hours after his church was set on fire, telling the congregation, "We are the Church. We are the living stones."
St. Jane Frances de Chantal Parish was the most heavily damaged of three Bethesda churches hit by vandalism over the weekend. A video posted on the parish's YouTube channel appears to show flames near the church's tabernacle. Authorities believe the incidents are connected.
A fire at North Bethesda United Methodist Church early Saturday morning caused minor damage and headstones were damaged at nearby Wildwood Baptist Church, the Washington Post reported.
A fire was reported early Sunday morning inside St. Jane Frances de Chantal, located about a mile from the Methodist church, authorities said. Because of the heavy damage, Sunday Masses were moved to the parish school’s gymnasium.