Heartless thieves steal statue from outside convent visited by Pope John Paul II

Thieves have caused outrage by stealing a statue of St Bernadette from outside a convent once visited by the Pope.

The Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth community is in Prestwich, next to Nazareth House care home and a church. Its nuns noticed their beloved statue had been taken earlier this week - but are unsure exactly when it disappeared.

Nicky Lyndsay, manager of the Nazareth House care home, said: "The nuns noticed it had gone on Tuesday but it is thought it was stolen sometime last week. It was one of two statues. The second in an archway and we are worried that might be taken too. The one that was taken was in a little garden at the front of the convent."

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The ornament was fixed in the garden facing another statue of the Virgin Mary depicting the moment St Bernadette had visions of Mary when she was a teenager.

In May 1982, the Sisters of Nazareth welcomed the then Pope John Paul II who arrived at the convent before before making history in nearby Heaton Park becoming the first Pope to visit Britain. More than 250,000 people packed into the park to hear the Pontiff celebrate Mass from a specially constructed open-air altar.

The Pope’s helicopter touched down at the nearby Convent of the Poor Sisters of Nazareth - as they were known then - at 8.10am and he spoke warmly to nuns and staff before proceeding to the park.

Locals have reacted angrily to the theft. One posted online: "Shame on them". Another said: "The same thing happened at St Mary's in Langley. Just no respect these days, very sad."

Yazzo Khan posted: "Omg I have no words. How this is even possible in this day and age with cameras everywhere is beyond me. Please tell me I am dreaming, I have lost all faith in humanity and I am ashamed to be a human.

"I hope the aliens find me first and take me off this vile planet and ship me somewhere where sacred ornaments are respected. I don't even feel like having my dinner after this news. Whoever has it I beg you for the love of God return her in one piece."

The covent is off Scholes Lane, and next to St Monica's RC High School. Commenting on the Original Prestwich Facebook site, one person said: "What is wrong with people. Why do this?". Another posted: "Disgraceful. There are some horrible people around these days."

The incident is the latest in a spate of thefts from Catholic churches. In January a number of statues were 'stolen' overnight from outside a church in Salford. A huge Jesus on the crucifix, a kneeling angel and kneeling figure of St Bernadette were thought to have been swiped from St Luke's in Irlams o'th Height.

In that case it was suspected the three statues were taken with the use of an electric saw and that 'drag marks' on the ground show the figures were likely taken to a vehicle in the car park.

In March a school and the wider community were left devastated after the theft of a huge statue of Jesus on a crucifix in the run up to Easter. Vandals struck in the early hours outside St Mary's RC Primary and Nursery School in Langley, Middleton.

St Bernadette of Lourdes was born on January 7th 1844, in Lourdes, France and died April 16th 1879. She was canonized December 8th 1933. Her visions led to the founding of the Marian shrine of Lourdes.

Between February 11 and July 16, 1858, at the age of 14, she had a series of visions of the Virgin Mary in the nearby Massabielle grotto. Mary revealed her identity with the words “I am the Immaculate Conception” and told Bernadette that a chapel should be built there. Bernadette defended the genuineness of these visions despite strong opposition from her parents, the local clergy, and civil authorities.