The tabernacle of the church in Mortagne-au-Perche (Orne) was desecrated on Tuesday, 24 June 2025. The religious building has been temporaily closed and will reopen on Saturday, 28 June for a Mass of Reparation.
The parish of Sainte-Céronne du Perche found its tabernacle, located on the high altar, broken into. ‘The sacred space has been violated once again,’ said Father Jean-Baptiste Balaÿ, alluding to a similar incidents abuot five years ago.
The church is not equipped with surveillance cameras. ‘The municipality wants to install video surveillance on municipal buildings. I am in favour of having it in the church. It would serve as a deterrent,’ argues Don Jean-Baptiste Balaÿ. Due to the severity of the act of desecration, a mass of reparation has to be held to reconsecrate the church. When a place is desecrated, it is ‘the whole community of the Church that suffers alongside the wounded faithful,’ said Father Jean-Baptiste. ‘The Mass of Reparation is a prayer to repair what has been damaged and violated,’ he added.
The parish is also considering reinforcing the tabernacle by adding, for example, a metal structure to prvent futher acts of desecration.