A church in northern Costa Rica was desecrated on Oct. 19, when unknown vandals broke open a tabernacle and stole consecrated hosts and various liturgical objects, reported the Diocese of Ciudad Quesada.

Diocese had issued a statement of the incident and filed a complaint on Wednesday with the authorities.

The incident took place in the early hours of the morning. When the caretakers of the St. Rose of Lima Parish, Pocosol, noticed first that sound equipment, sacred vessels, and a monstrance had been stolen. The tabernacle was forced open and consecrated hosts were taken as per the reports.

The parish priest, Father Geison Gerardo Ortiz Marín, will carry out an act of reparation today, Oct 22nd, in the parish. Trusting in almighty God and in the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, we remain united in prayer, the statement concluded.

The parish priest shared in a statement to ACI Prensa, added that “these circumstances are not easy to digest, because they affect the faith and security that one believes one has. This puts us on the alert and demands from all of us a greater commitment to evangelization, since we are all worthy of mercy”.

The priest said that the “community will recover because the items can be restored.” However, he said that what “has hit us all the most has been not knowing what happened to the sacred hosts.” Although this is a disappointment, we trust in the goodness of God and ask for the conversion of those who had the audacity to enter the sanctuary and cause the robbery to be committed. I pray to God, and I ask the faithful that we do not stop praying for all those involved in this crime,” he continued.

Fr. Ortiz is known locally and internationally for working three or four days a week as a baker in his parish community in order to raise funds for charity.

On Oct. 20 the parish community already conducted a Holy Hour “in reparation for the offenses against Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.” They will also conduct special prayers in the parish as an act of reparation today.