The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

November 13, 2009

Religious statues stolen from church chapel

By Art Sanda

Thievery in the Hinton area hit a new level of repugnancy this fall, Father Arthur Bufogle says, when party or parties unknown entered the always-open St. Colman Catholic Chapel on Irish Mountain and stole two statues, one of Mary the Blessed Mother and the other of St. Joseph.

“To what useful purpose could those statues possibly be put by a thief?” asked Bufogle, pastor of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Hinton, under whose stewardship St. Colman also falls.

“To take food when one’s family is starving is not stealing; to take the means of warmth when one’s family is freezing is not stealing, but to remove symbols of faith from a place of worship, that simply is heinous. It is a desecration and a sacrilege.”

According to Bufogle, St. Colman Chapel, built in 1877-1878 by Irish immigrants who populated Irish Mountain at the turn of the century, has been on the National Register of Historic Places for more than 20 years.

“Throughout the year, the chapel is left unlocked and open to all who pass by and want to pause in their travels for a moment of reflection or to enjoy the simplicity of the surroundings. A guest registry inside the chapel attests to the hundreds of people from many other states and even other countries who have done so, and done so with the respect St. Colman Chapel deserves.”

The theft of the statues was discovered earlier this month by parishioners of St. Patrick on a routine visit to clean the chapel and perform maintenance on the grounds and cemetery. No collateral damage was reported.

“It is our hope,” Bufogle said, “that the many friends of St. Colman in the greater Hinton and Beckley areas will be as outraged by this sacrilege as are the parishioners of St. Patrick. Any information that would aid the police in apprehending those responsible and in recovery of the statues would be greatly appreciated.

“We encourage those who may have such information to come forward and contact the State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department or the Hinton City Police. Or, should any such person be concerned with their privacy, I ask that they please contact me in strictest confidence at 304-466-3966.”

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