CNA Staff, Jul 17, 2020 / 08:01 am
A church in the New Haven, Connecticut parish at which the Knights of Columbus was founded was vandalized this week, with a satanic symbol painted on the door.
Fr. Michael McGivney, who will soon be beatified, began his priestly ministry at St. Mary's Parish in New Haven, the city's first parish, in 1877. The priest founded the Knights of Columbus there in 1882.
In 2018, nearby St. Joseph Church became part of St. Mary's Parish during a diocesan consolidation process. Fr. John Paul Walker, OP, the parish pastor said in a Facebook post Thursday that vandalism at St. Joseph Church had taken place overnight.
"Words and various symbols including a satanic one were painted on the outside doors of the church," Walker said.
"While we assess the situation and make plans to bless the church, the church will remain closed at least through the end of the day today," he said. "Our two daily Masses, confessions, and afternoon Adoration are therefore canceled. We will be live streaming Mass at noon from the priory chapel."