- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Catholic School Vandalized, Leaders Urge Prayer for Perpetrators
Statues smashed, tabernacle destroyed at Holy Innocents Catholic School in Long Beach, California
Feb. 4, 2026 at 12:55am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The leaders of a California Catholic school that was desecrated after a break-in are urging the community to "make many acts of reparation for this offense against God and Our Lady." Images show smashed statues, destroyed religious figures, and a toppled photograph of the pope. The school's pastor and principal have requested increased security and asked parents to pray for the perpetrator.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the ongoing issue of religious sites and institutions being targeted for vandalism and desecration, raising concerns about the protection of sacred spaces and the need for dialogue and understanding between different communities.
The details
At Holy Innocents Catholic School in Long Beach, California, the school's statue of the Virgin Mary was smashed, and the tabernacle was removed and thrown to the floor in an apparent attempt to force it open. The atrium prepared by the Carmelite Sisters was also completely destroyed.
- The vandalism was discovered on Monday morning.
The players
Fr. G. Peter Irving
The pastor and head of Holy Innocents Catholic School.
Cyril Cruz
The principal of Holy Innocents Catholic School.
Justice Department's Civil Rights Division
The division that has launched an investigation into the incident.
What they’re saying
“We ask everyone to make many acts of reparation for this offense against God and Our Lady.”
— Fr. G. Peter Irving, Pastor and Head of School (Letter to School Parents)
“Our statue of the Virgin Mary was smashed, and the tabernacle was removed and thrown to the floor in an apparent attempt to force it open. The atrium lovingly prepared by the Carmelite Sisters for our scholars was completely destroyed.”
— Cyril Cruz, School Principal (EWTN News)
“Please join us in prayer for those who committed this act so that they may turn away from darkness and embrace the loving grace of our Lord. We particularly ask for the intercession of our Blessed Mother for our school, our families, and our community.”
— Fr. G. Peter Irving and Cyril Cruz, Pastor, Head of School and Principal (Letter to School Parents)
What’s next
The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division has launched an investigation into the incident at Holy Innocents Catholic School.
The takeaway
This act of vandalism against a Catholic school highlights the ongoing need to protect sacred spaces and foster dialogue and understanding between different communities. The school's leaders have called for prayer and reparation, emphasizing the importance of responding to such incidents with compassion and a commitment to healing.
