Thanks for covering this; I'd seen it briefly in secular media but covered only as "an explosion in a church basement" - hadn't realized it was during Adoration
Sounds like they caught him. I’ll never understand acts like this. My mother’s family have deep roots in Schuylkill county - many beautiful churches there, many built during the prosperous coal mining era. People there are tough as they come, but I know they’ll appreciate our prayer and an offering - if anyone finds a link to donate please post.
Were there people who saw the attack happen? How did we get the details that were reported if no one was there? I look forward to getting more info. I'm also disturbed by the USCCB statistic of 350 violent acts in the past five years. I need to start looking at the violence in my own heart. May our Eucharistic Lord give the parish, the diocese, and all Catholics the grace to respond with forgiveness, peace, and strength.
Local news sources have more information. There is security camera footage of the attack. Also, the pastor, secretary, and sisters offered some witness testimony, it sounds like.
I’d like to order a St Katherine, Mother Cabrini and St Therese please? With a side of lowering the age of confirmation universally back to age of reason (I know I know FHC was Pius X but same *era* ok)
My parish in Indiana just suffered from one of those 350 arson attacks last week, right outside of the entrance to the main sanctuary, where a homemade cross was standing. The fire was put out before any real damage was done to the building, but the cross, which was the handiwork of a now-deceased parishioner, was beyond repair.
I will pray in solidarity with this parish and other victims of these hateful acts against God’s faithful. I didn’t know how frequently this kind of thing occurred, until it happened at our doorstep.
Here's a local story on it. Like one of the others who commented, I wonder about no one being there--isn't someone always supposed to be present at a perpetual adoration chapel? Was someone there at the time who isn't being mentioned?
This is awful. I will offer my next Holy Hour for the offense.
This is terrible. I guess I am wondering why Our Lord was exposed and unattended…
I don't think He necessarily was. I personally would not leap straight to tackling someone who approached the alter and put something on it.
True- it’s hard to know from the article- except the priest said he saw it on the camera feed. I hope He wasn’t left alone- He shouldn’t be!
There’s a photo on a local news site- a capture of when it detonated. The chapel looks empty.
Quite so, and I hope he wasn't.
No one is mentioned as being present.
Excellent question!
I’m trying to find a way to donate to them. I’ve come up short, so if anyone fares better please post it here. Thanks in advance.
https://www.allentowndiocese.org/SaintTeresaRecovery
Thanks for covering this; I'd seen it briefly in secular media but covered only as "an explosion in a church basement" - hadn't realized it was during Adoration
Yes, the adoration chapel is in the basement of this church. It's a hidden gem of Schuylkill county!
https://www.republicanherald.com/2025/05/07/man-in-custody-charged-with-setting-off-explosive-device-in-chapel/
Sounds like they caught him. I’ll never understand acts like this. My mother’s family have deep roots in Schuylkill county - many beautiful churches there, many built during the prosperous coal mining era. People there are tough as they come, but I know they’ll appreciate our prayer and an offering - if anyone finds a link to donate please post.
Were there people who saw the attack happen? How did we get the details that were reported if no one was there? I look forward to getting more info. I'm also disturbed by the USCCB statistic of 350 violent acts in the past five years. I need to start looking at the violence in my own heart. May our Eucharistic Lord give the parish, the diocese, and all Catholics the grace to respond with forgiveness, peace, and strength.
Local news sources have more information. There is security camera footage of the attack. Also, the pastor, secretary, and sisters offered some witness testimony, it sounds like.
Good reporting
Praise the Lord that no one was injured & no lives were lost!
Not to make light of a truly terrible occurrence, but for levity's sake:
>The current pope named is Leo
>Anarchists are setting off bomb plots
>US President imposes tariffs on foreign countries and possibly acquiring overseas territories
>Human-centric urban planning is becoming popular again
Welcome back to the Gilded Age?
I’d like to order a St Katherine, Mother Cabrini and St Therese please? With a side of lowering the age of confirmation universally back to age of reason (I know I know FHC was Pius X but same *era* ok)
My parish in Indiana just suffered from one of those 350 arson attacks last week, right outside of the entrance to the main sanctuary, where a homemade cross was standing. The fire was put out before any real damage was done to the building, but the cross, which was the handiwork of a now-deceased parishioner, was beyond repair.
I will pray in solidarity with this parish and other victims of these hateful acts against God’s faithful. I didn’t know how frequently this kind of thing occurred, until it happened at our doorstep.
what part of indiana?
St. Bernard's in Crawfordsville, my home parish. Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana.
How awful. I grew up from age 5-10 in Greencastle.
Here's a local story on it. Like one of the others who commented, I wonder about no one being there--isn't someone always supposed to be present at a perpetual adoration chapel? Was someone there at the time who isn't being mentioned?
https://www.republicanherald.com/2025/05/07/man-in-custody-charged-with-setting-off-explosive-device-in-chapel/
https://www.allentowndiocese.org/SaintTeresaRecovery
For donations to the parish.