LA Bishop Holds Reparation Mass After Vandalism at Catholic School

Holy Innocents School in Long Beach was desecrated, but the community came together to restore the space and celebrate Mass.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 10:15pm

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A Catholic school in Long Beach, California was the victim of a vandalism incident that left the school hall trashed, with damaged religious statues and a broken tabernacle. In response, the local auxiliary bishop held a Mass of reparation the following day, leading a Eucharistic procession around the school to bless the space and bring healing. The school community rallied to clean up the damage and restore the hall in time for the Mass.

Why it matters

The vandalism at Holy Innocents School has shaken the local Catholic community, raising concerns about security and the targeting of religious institutions. However, the swift response by school leaders, clergy, and parishioners to hold a Mass of reparation demonstrates the resilience of the community and their commitment to their faith in the face of such an act.

The details

On the morning of February 2, the principal of Holy Innocents School in Long Beach discovered the school hall had been desecrated, with trash, broken religious statues, and a damaged tabernacle. The Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division announced it would investigate the incident as a potential hate crime. Despite the damage, the school community was able to clean up the hall in time to hold a Mass of reparation the following day, led by Auxiliary Bishop Marc Trudeau.

  • On February 2, the principal discovered the vandalism at the school.
  • On February 3, the reparation Mass was held in the cleaned-up school hall.

The players

Cyril Cruz

The principal of Holy Innocents School who discovered the vandalism.

Bishop Marc Trudeau

The auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles' San Pedro Pastoral Region who led the reparation Mass.

Father Peter Irving III

The longtime pastor at Holy Innocents Church who led a Eucharistic procession after the Mass.

Kiernan Fiore

The director of academics at Holy Innocents School who helped students process the vandalism.

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What they’re saying

“People who are broken tend to break things. And healing is necessary. We can't look at them or demonize them as terrible people.”

— Bishop Marc Trudeau, Auxiliary Bishop (Angelus News)

“What happened here happens because there's darkness inside someone that they're carrying with them. We don't know who they are, what their story is, but you have the choice to not carry that kind of darkness, and instead to carry light. You can turn to our Lord right now.”

— Kiernan Fiore, Director of Academics (Angelus News)

What’s next

The Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division will continue its investigation into the vandalism incident at Holy Innocents School.

The takeaway

This incident has shaken the Holy Innocents community, but their swift response to hold a Mass of reparation and restore the desecrated space demonstrates the power of faith and community to overcome acts of darkness. The school's commitment to teaching students to respond with light rather than darkness in the face of such violations is an inspiring example of resilience.