A Virgin of Guadalupe mural painted on tiles is seen with a destroyed face on the side of St. Elisabeth Catholic Church in the Van Nuys section of Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. A man used a sledgehammer to smash the face of a Virgin of Guadalupe mural and was recorded on security camera video during the attack that happened around 1:40 a.m. on April 21. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A man used a sledgehammer last week to smash the face of a Virgin of Guadalupe mural painted on tiles at a church in Los Angeles.
The man was recorded on security camera video during the predawn attack at St. Elisabeth Catholic Church in the Van Nuys neighborhood on April 21.
The parish website posted photos of the damage and called the vandalism 'œone of our saddest moments'ť in addition to what people have endured during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Virgin of Guadelupe is considered central to Mexican identity and is widely worshipped as the patron saint of the Americas.
The Rev. Vito Di Marzio, the church's pastor, led parishioners and school children 'œin prayer for peace, unity and order in our parish community area as well as for the person who perpetrated this sacrilegious act on our Blessed Mother,'ť the website said.
Sister Angelie Marie Inoferio told KTLA-TV she was devastated but that the vandalism would be used as a teaching moment for parish school children.
'œWe cannot judge what is really inside of him, maybe it's a cry for help,'ť Inoferio said. 'œFor now, we are praying, hopefully that person someday will be converted and realize that what he did is wrong.'ť
The parish asked for donations to restore the mural, which was painted 35 years ago, and install a plexiglass casing for protection.
Flowers and police tape are seen in front of a smashed mural of the Virgin of Guadalupe on the side of St. Elisabeth Catholic Church in the Van Nuys section of Los Angeles, Wednesday, April 28, 2021. An unidentified man used a sledgehammer to smash the face of the mural and was recorded on security camera video during the attack that happened around 1:40 a.m. on April 21. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
The Associated Press
A parishioner makes a donation in front of a smashed mural of the Virgin of Guadalupe on the side of St. Elisabeth Catholic Church in the Van Nuys section of Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. An unidentified man used a sledgehammer to smash the face of the mural and was recorded on security camera video during the attack that happened around 1:40 a.m. on April 21. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
The Associated Press
A parishioner prays at a mural of the Virgin of Guadalupe on the side of St. Elisabeth Catholic Church in the Van Nuys section of Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. A man used a sledgehammer to smash the face of the mural and was recorded on security camera video during the attack that happened around 1:40 a.m. on April 21. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
The Associated Press