Thief breaks into a Tacoma Catholic chapel and takes its most sacred object
A spiritual vessel was stolen from a Catholic church this week and congregants are hurt, outraged and praying for its return.
Sometime early Wednesday, someone broke into the Holy Rosary Catholic convent’s chapel and unbolted the sanctuary’s tabernacle from its platform near the altar.
“It appears that the person was just targeting the tabernacle,” said Helen McClenahan, spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Seattle.
Two flower arrangements on either side of the round vessel weren’t disturbed.
“It is a very religious object for Catholics,” McClenahan said.
Tabernacles are fixed, locked containers where the Eucharist is kept. Tabernacle means “dwelling place,” and Catholics believe the Eucharist is the body of Christ in the appearance of bread.
“The Eucharist is the true treasure,” said Thom Ryng, a Holy Rosary parishioner. “Thieves stealing that is like kidnapping Jesus.”
Reaction to the theft was immediate. Comments on the Catholic Tacoma Facebook group page ranged from sadness to suggestions that the tabernacle had been taken for nefarious purposes. Many said they would pray for its return.
A tabernacle can be made from a variety of materials. The stolen tabernacle is made out of brass. It is 20 inches tall, round and about a foot wide. Inside was a ciborium (a large covered cup) and a luna (a circular container with glass sides). Both are missing.
The convent’s tabernacle was never located in the now-closed church.
“The convent chapel tabernacle has always been part of the convent chapel since it was built in the 1960s,” McClenahan said.
Tacoma police are investigating the theft, according to spokeswoman Loretta Cool. Muddy footprints were found on a kitchen floor. The loss and damages were reported at $20,000, Cool said.
At a Catholic supply website, new tabernacles like the one stolen ranged from $4,000 to $27,000 on Thursday.
Holy Rosary Church is currently closed and marked for demolition. An independent group is raising money to renovate and save the building. The convent is located nearby on the same grounds.
This story was originally published December 12, 2019 at 8:05 PM.
