UPDATE: Sacred Heart of Jesus Statue

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 5, 2016

Update: (2:30pm) The base and right hand sustained damage.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus statue stolen from outside Saints Peter and Paul Rectory was returned this morning. Just hours after thieves took it off its plinth over the weekend, a Brooklyn man found it in a trash can outside his home near South 3rd St between Berry and Bedford Avenues in Williamsburg. The man took the statue and gave it to his mother, who kept it in her apartment. After seeing local news reports indicating the statue had been stolen, the family realized it belonged to Saints Peter and Paul Parish, where they sometimes attend church services. They contacted the rectory and returned the statue this morning. The base of the statue as well as the statue’s right hand have been damaged. D’Ambrosio Ecclesiastical Art Studios, Inc has volunteered to restore the statue as well as donate a bigger, heavier version. The larger statue will go outside the rectory in the stolen statue’s place, while the recovered statue will go inside the Parish’s new church which is expected to be complete in 2019. The stolen statue was donated by a couple in New Jersey, an heirloom they say was in their family for about 100 years. It was donated in 2012 to replace a similar statue–also stolen from outside church property. Police are still looking for the 3 thieves who were caught on video taking the sacred statue.

Update: The Sacred Heart of Jesus statue stolen from outside the Saints Peter and Paul Rectory, located at 71 South 3rd St, 11249 in Williamsburg, has been found. A man spotted the statue in a trash can outside his Brooklyn apartment and gave it to his mother. After seeing media reports, the family realized where the statue belonged and contacted the rectory to return it. The statue is being restored at D’Ambrosio Ecclesiastical Art Studios, Inc. Phone number: (914) 666-6906. Saints Peter and Paul Parish’s Mother Superior and the rectory secretary will be available for interviews at the rectory at 1pm.

Press Advisory:

A statue of Jesus was stolen on Saturday night from Saints Peter and Paul Church in Williamsburg, located at 82 S 2nd St, Brooklyn NY 11249. Surveillance video shows a group of suspects taking the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue from outside the church. The same type of statue was stolen from Saints Peter and Paul Church in 2012. A replacement statue, which was donated by a couple from New Jersey, was taken on Saturday. The church is asking anyone who may recognize the people in the video to come forward. The Mother Superior assigned to this parish will be available for media interviews at 2:30pm at the Church. Please email Carolyn Erstad directly for better quality video and for more information.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Carolyn Erstad
718-517-3112
cerstad@desalesmedia.org