The Archdiocese of Bangalore conducted reparation ceremonies on February 28 as police continued their investigation into the theft of a Monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament from a parish.

Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore, based in Karnataka’s capital, called for all parishes across the archdiocese to observe February 28 as a day of penance and reparation.

"A grave sacrilege has taken place at St. Antony's Church" in the Uttarhalli area, about 12 kilometers south of the city center, the archbishop stated in a pastoral decree. The incident occurred on the night of February 25, when unidentified individuals broke into the Adoration chapel and stole the Monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament.

The theft was promptly reported to the police, but authorities have yet to recover either the stolen Monstrance or the sacred Eucharist. "We fear that the Holy Eucharist has been desecrated," the archbishop's letter said.

Father Cyril Victor Joseph, the archdiocese's communication director, suggested that the perpetrator might have taken the Monstrance due to its golden color, mistakenly believing it to be made of gold. "There is no vandalism in the Church, and therefore, we as of now rule out any possibility of any communal angle in the incident," he told UCA News on February 28.

While police efforts continue, the Church remains deeply troubled by the loss of the Eucharist. "The stolen Eucharist and its desecration is a cause of pain for all of us. We are praying, seeking reparation for the sacrilege," Father Joseph added.

Although Church officials have dismissed religious motives behind the theft, some Christian leaders have expressed concerns about the broader situation in Karnataka. The state has witnessed multiple attacks on Christian institutions and places of worship, often linked to right-wing Hindu groups alleging forced religious conversions.

According to data from the United Christian Forum, Karnataka recorded 52 incidents of attacks against Christians and their institutions in 2024. Christians form less than 2 percent of Karnataka’s over 60 million population, with the vast majority of residents being Hindus.