Saint Rita is a symbol of peace in the Catholic Church. But, that couldn’t keep her from becoming a victim of vandals.
Parishioners found the five-foot statue of the saint lying broken on the ground in front of Saint Rita's Church in Philadelphia, the national shrine to Saint Rita of Cascia.
And the timing couldn’t be worse. All this week, the church is holding special masses and other ceremonies in honor of Saint Rita's Feast Day Friday, May 22.
The church sent the statue away to be repaired, but it could be months before Saint Rita is back where she belongs, according to Father DiGregorio, who told News10 that he couldn't answer the question of why someone would destroy a symbol of prayer and hope.
"I wonder what the intent was," he said. "Are they anti-religious? Are they anti-Catholic? Or are they just kids trying to show off their power and strength? I can't answer that."
