The in Denver has recovered two statues that were stolen from the building’s facade last week, but they are damaged, said Rev. Paul Nguyen on Friday.
The statues, which depicted Saints Rita and Paul, were stolen from the front of the church by a man on a skateboard just before 4 a.m. on March 4, according to the Catholic parish’s website.
The two statues have graced the facade of the church for more than 100 years, since Holy Ghost Church opened as a basement church in 1924.
“It leaves a literal hole in the wall and in your heart,” Nguyen said. “It’s been very hard for the community wrestling with it.”
Denver police found the statues on Wednesday. An investigation into the theft is ongoing and no one has been arrested as of Friday, the Denver Police Department said.
The rediscovered statues were cut up and ready to be sold for their metal value, Nguyen said.
The church has found artisans who can fix the statues, but it is going to cost about $4,000, he said.
“We’re kind of hoping police go ahead and make the arrest that is relevant to that case and see where it goes,” Nguyen said. “It would be nice not to have to use our rainy day fund for something like this since it’s vandalism and there is a responsible party.”
Holy Ghost Church, 1900 California St., has about 2,000 registered parishioners.
