As to the extent of the damage, several windows were smashed on church property and the word "burn" was painted on the front door of the church, while an upside-down cross was painted on the exterior of the church building.
The words "god is dead" were painted on construction equipment on the parish school property, with other profanities painted on construction equipment.
The staffer, a life-long Kenosha resident, told CNA that the unrest was "heartbreaking to see." Of the shooting and the subsequent protests and riots, "things like this don't happen," the staffer said, "and so when they do" then "nobody knew how to handle it."
The staffer said that in his view, many participating in the protests and riots "are not from Kenosha." Local volunteers have been helping the church and the town clean up from damage.
Local Catholics are also asking priests to join in praying the rosary and exorcism prayers, the staffer said. "There are a lot of people who are just trying to get as many people as possible to pray for everything that's going on, and for peace and for our community to be safe again."
In a video from St. Joseph's Academy in Kenosha, Fr. Todd Belardi asked students to pray for justice and peace and leading them in the rosary.
On Monday, Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki also prayed for Blake's healing and for peace in the community.
"Violence can never be the means to attain peace and justice.," he said in a statement, emphasizing that "the sins of violence, injustice, racism and hatred must be purged from our communities with acts of mercy, with the protection and care for the dignity of every human person, with respect for the common good, and with an unwavering pursuit of equality and peace."
"The Church stands as a beacon of hope," said Listecki.
Matt Hadro was the political editor at Catholic News Agency through October 2021. He previously worked as CNA senior D.C. correspondent and as a press secretary for U.S. Congressman Chris Smith.