Buenos Aires, Argentina, Oct 2, 2013 / 23:56 pm
Father Francisco Baigorria, pastor of St. Ignatius of Loyola parish in Buenos Aires, has expressed sadness and concern over the Sept. 25 desecration of his church, reportedly by students from a near-by high school.
"This has caused tremendous spiritual and moral harm, because they committed sacrilege," Fr. Baigorria told AICA news agency that day.
The students destroyed numerous artifacts in the parish, among the oldest in Buenos Aires. They set fire to a row of pews and the celebrant's chair and painted anti-Catholic graffiti on the walls and floor. One of the messages said, "The only church that enlightens is that which burns."
Upon discovering the vandalism, Fr. Baigorria notified the police, and worked most of the morning cleaning up the parish so as to say Mass that afternoon on one of the side altars. Mass may not be said on the desecrated main altar. Archbishop Mario Poli of Buenos Aires determines when and how the main altar will be re-consecrated.