"It's hard to think of like a religious community being targeted," Parishioner Johnny Vinit told KOIN 6 News.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A local church has been hit by a thief three times but the biggest loss doesn't carry a dollar value.
At St. Michael the Archangel Church in downtown Portland, the congregation is praying for the return of their sacred tabernacle and the holy item inside it.
"It's hard to think of like a religious community being targeted," Parishioner Johnny Vinit told KOIN 6 News.
Posters have been put up around town, asking for prayers as the church — which has had to deal with three break-ins within a week — hopes to bring the two sacred items back to the chapel.
Father Ignacio Llorente told KOIN 6 News that on the night of the first break-in on Tuesday, May 28, he saw on surveillance video that someone was camping on the stairs of the historic church.
"They climbed through the stairs to the bell tower, then broke into a bell tower, broke a window, enter, went down, then broken our door. And then he entered the kind of office area," Llorente said.
Llorente said that the person spent some time inside, then left, taking several things with him, including a set of keys. The next day, the man returned.
"He came back at 1 a.m. Wednesday and he came in twice. So he came 1 a.m., took a bike and a speaker from our house," Llorente said. "Then broken again at 4 a.m. — he entered our chapel and took what in the Catholic faith is called the tabernacle."
The tabernacle contains the blessed sacrament used for the catholic religion. Llorente told KOIN 6 News the tabernacle looks expensive but it's wood painted gold. However, many consider what's inside to be invaluable.
"I don't care for the bike or the speaker or the other things that were stolen, but yes, to recover the tabernacle, and most precisely, the blessing host that is inside the tabernacle," Llorente said.
The church said police made an arrest but the suspect was later released.
Saint Michael's is offering a cash reward of $1,000 for anyone who finds these two sacred items. If you find them, the church can be contacted at 503-228-8629.
