A week after the statue of Baby Jesus disappeared from the outdoor creche at a Brooklyn church, there still was no word as to what happened to it.
Louis Pepe, a member of Sacred Hearts-St. Stephen parish, Carroll Gardens, said he realized the figurine was missing when he left for work on Jan. 3 at 4 a.m.
Pepe, who donated the Nativity set this year in memory of his parents, called police, who responded to the scene.
Msgr. Guy Massie, pastor, said he had seen the statue at 7 p.m. the evening before.
“Financially, it’s not worth anything,” said Msgr. Massie.
“Its worth is that this parish had an outdoor creche for the first time in recent memory. And the people liked it being here.”
Mischief, Not Violence
Msgr. Massie said he did not think the disappearance was an act of violence because nothing else was missing. He suggested it could have been kids’ mischief.
“Just return it,” he said. “Leave it in a back seat of the church, and there will be no questions asked.”
The monsignor added that “You don’t play with people’s feelings and emotions like this.”