A Blessed Mother statue is back on the lawn outside the two Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth convents, on the 2700 block of Holme Ave., on the grounds of Nazareth Hospital.
Sister Michele, the Superior, explained that she and other Sisters were recently eating dinner when they witnessed a “disturbed young man” smash the Blessed Mother statue on their lawn.
Police arrived on the scene, but the suspect had fled. Northeast Detectives ultimately made an arrest.
As for the statue, Sister Michele reached out to an acquaintance, Rudy Muller, Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus St. Christopher Council 17997.
Sister Michele was glad to hear Muller say, “We’re replacing that statue.”
“It was very touching to hear that kind of response,” she said.
“The calls started going out that night,” Muller said.
Knights of Columbus Councils St. Christopher 17997 and DeSoto 315 teamed with the Knights of Columbus St. John Neumann Assembly #933 and the League of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Police and Fire Association to raise money for a bigger new statue.
Joseph F. Connelly and Sons Landscaping Maintenance and Snow Removal agreed to do the work.
“Through the grace of God and the prayers of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, it came to fruition,” Muller said.
Last week, during KOC Council 17997’s second annual barbecue for the Sisters, the new Blessed Virgin Mary statue was dedicated and blessed.
People sang Immaculate Mary, and the Rev. Sean English – former parochial vicar at St. Christopher and now pastor at St. Stanislaus in Lansdale – offered prayer and sprinkled the statue with holy water. Sister Mary Annette Gailey, who is celebrating 25 years with the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, placed flowers in front of the statue. There are also lights for the statue.
Others on hand included police Cpl. Bryan Coyle, of the League of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Police and Fire Association; the Rev. James MacNew, Director of Campus Ministry at Holy Family University and FOP Lodge 5 chaplain; a KOC St. John Neumann Assembly honor guard; and police Capt. Lou Campione, Grand Knight of KOC Council 315. ••
