Heartbroken by the recent theft of a church tabernacle containing the Blessed Sacrament, parishioners of St. John the Evangelist in Hydes are struggling to understand why anyone would commit such a crime, according to Father Pete Literal, pastor.
“People are really sad,” Father Literal said. “We are trying to accompany our people in processing their grief because the Eucharist is the most important gift we have here.”
Father Literal noted that Father Ross E. Conklin, associate pastor, discovered the missing tabernacle when he was preparing for morning Mass March 26. Father Conklin called Father Literal, who then called the authorities.
The break-in is believed to have taken place the evening of March 25, which not only was the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord and the day on which the Pope Francis consecrated Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, but also Father Literal’s 70th birthday.
“They took the tabernacle and in it I know we had two ciboriums, one luna and another little ciborium for gluten-free (hosts),” said Father Literal, who is recovering from shoulder surgery. “The most devastating part is that the tabernacle had the Eucharist in it and we don’t know where it is.”
In addition to the tabernacle with the Eucharist, which was made of gold and silver, the thief or thieves stole six gold-plated candle holders, four candelabras and the base for the processional cross. The estimated monetary damages are expected to be higher than $20,000.
Although the parish has not received a full report from the police, the pastor believes the intruders attempted to open five doors. The parish is unsure which door the thief or thieves used to gain entry. According to Father Literal, there are “a lot of markings” on the left side door of the church.
There are no suspects and the pastor thinks the main motive was based purely on monetary purposes.
Instructed by the Archdiocese of Baltimore, parish leaders offered a prayer of reconsecration of the church before celebrating Mass the morning following the incident.
Then, the parish continued with a planned workshop retreat on accompaniment and one of the areas of accompaniment was grief.
“The facilitator was able to explain how to properly accompany our people from that point of view,” Father Literal said.
In addition to providing healing and accompanying parishioners through grief, the parish will host a holy hour of reparation April 1.
A historic parish tabernacle is being used provisionally, but the parish hopes to have a new tabernacle by its 200th anniversary celebration in May, since a parishioner has volunteered to purchase a new one.
A rededication of the tabernacle with the presence of Archbishop William E. Lori would have to occur before then, the pastor said.
Father Literal hopes healing will take place in the hearts of the parishioners.
“All these items that were stolen could be replaced,” he said, “but disrespecting the Eucharist is imponderable.”
Email Priscila González de Doran at pdoran@CatholicReview.org
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