By Dean MemingerBronxnews
NY1 first reported that an important painting was stolen from a Bronx church, and now borough reporter Dean Meminger filed the following report on how the thief came forward for forgiveness.
Priests at Our Lady of Angels parish in Kingsbridge Heights, Bronx say their prayers have been answered. A painting of Jesus Christ that was stolen more than a week ago was returned Monday morning by the woman who took it."I opened up the door on the inside, she went right to the wall where it was and returned it and actually prayed in front of the image," said the Reverend Vincent Drudling of the parish.
Church leaders told NY1 the woman did apologize for stealing the painting called "Divine Mercy." She had swiped it right off of the church wall.
"She was praying in front of the image and was experiencing a lot of depression," said Drudling. "She says she looked up at the image and saw a light and heard our lord say, 'Take me with you.' And so she proceeded to do so."
Priests at Our Lady of Angels did get the police involved with trying to find the thief, but they said now they are not interested in having the woman arrested.
"I am kind of proud of the parishioners because the first reaction was, 'Let's pray for this person,' rather than 'Let's prosecute this person, let's find them and hunt them down,'" said Pastor Thomas Lynch. "I am very proud of the parishioners who offered a prayer first."
"It is a testament to our parish. Even though something wrong was done, it was righted," said parishioner Meilyn Castillo. "So I think that is awesome."
The priests said perhaps the theft was all the work of God, to teach people to appreciate Jesus Christ.
"For all I know, this experience could have been real. She could have had a real experience with our lord," said Drudling.
The pastor said the parishioner who bought "Divine Mercy" for the church now wants to buy a smaller print for the woman who took the church's painting.
One of the priests has the image stored in his cell phone as a reminder that we should all have divine mercy and practice what we preach when it comes to forgiving others.
Priests at Our Lady of Angels parish in Kingsbridge Heights, Bronx say their prayers have been answered. A painting of Jesus Christ that was stolen more than a week ago was returned Monday morning by the woman who took it."I opened up the door on the inside, she went right to the wall where it was and returned it and actually prayed in front of the image," said the Reverend Vincent Drudling of the parish.
Church leaders told NY1 the woman did apologize for stealing the painting called "Divine Mercy." She had swiped it right off of the church wall.
"She was praying in front of the image and was experiencing a lot of depression," said Drudling. "She says she looked up at the image and saw a light and heard our lord say, 'Take me with you.' And so she proceeded to do so."
Priests at Our Lady of Angels did get the police involved with trying to find the thief, but they said now they are not interested in having the woman arrested.
"I am kind of proud of the parishioners because the first reaction was, 'Let's pray for this person,' rather than 'Let's prosecute this person, let's find them and hunt them down,'" said Pastor Thomas Lynch. "I am very proud of the parishioners who offered a prayer first."
"It is a testament to our parish. Even though something wrong was done, it was righted," said parishioner Meilyn Castillo. "So I think that is awesome."
The priests said perhaps the theft was all the work of God, to teach people to appreciate Jesus Christ.
"For all I know, this experience could have been real. She could have had a real experience with our lord," said Drudling.
The pastor said the parishioner who bought "Divine Mercy" for the church now wants to buy a smaller print for the woman who took the church's painting.
One of the priests has the image stored in his cell phone as a reminder that we should all have divine mercy and practice what we preach when it comes to forgiving others.
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