Religious Statue Damaged at San Rocco Shrine
A statue of the Virgin Mary was damaged and defaced at a shrine of the Madonna Del Popolo at the Church of San Rocco on 10 October. The perpetrators are suspected to be a group of teenagers who also littered the churchyard and damaged several flowerpots surrounding the shrine. Local police are investigating, and the parish communities in the area announced a Mass of Reparation for the offensive vandalistic act.
According to local media, the statue of the Virgin Mary, located at the Church of San Rocco, was defaced, and several flower pots were damaged by a group of teenagers, while flowers in the churchyard were also left damaged.
The damage caused distress in the local community since the Marian shrine has long been an object of devotion. The Pastoral Unit, bringing together several parishes, announced a Mass of Reparation at the Basilica of the Convent on 15 October, in prayer for those who committed the "offensive and vandalistic act against the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Popolo." Local parishes also announced that they would donate a replacement statue of the Virgin Mary.
Sources: bresciaoggi, giornaledibrescia, bresciatoday
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