Vandals Cement Church Locks, Disrupting Memorial Mass
On 6 September 2026, around 100 Catholics were prevented from entering St Lambert's Church in Hoogstade, Belgium, after unknown perpetrators filled the church's door locks with cement. The vandalism forced the priest to hold a shortened memorial Mass outdoors, without Communion, disrupting a service commemorating deceased family members. Police opened an investigation into the incident.
During the weekend preceding 6 September 2026, unknown perpetrators filled the locks of St Lambert's Church in Hoogstade, a village in the municipality of Alveringem in West Flanders, with cement. When approximately 100 parishioners arrived on Sunday morning for a memorial Mass organised by four local families, they discovered that the cement had hardened, making it impossible to enter the church.
The perpetrators had blocked the main entrance, a side entrance and access to the sacristy. Attempts by parish representatives to open the doors were unsuccessful. As a result, parish priest Fr Johannes Mwamba was forced to hold a shortened service outside the church. Although Communion could not be celebrated, those attending were able to pray, sing and commemorate their deceased relatives, whose names were read aloud during the service.
The municipality filed a police complaint and announced that the damaged locks would have to be drilled out and replaced, as removing the hardened cement was considered impractical. The Spoorkin police district opened an investigation into the vandalism. Subsequent reporting confirmed that a new, more secure lock had been installed on the church's main entrance.
Source: vrt.be
Symbolic image: Pixabay