A Mass to stand alongside the community of the Servants of Mary following the serious theft that struck the convent of Pennabilli. On Friday, September 4, at 8 a.m., Bishop Monsignor Domenico Beneventi will preside over the Eucharistic celebration at the convent, as a sign of closeness to Father Wandile, the friars and the faithful.
The raid took place on the morning of August 22, while the diocese was engaged in the visit of Pope Leo XIV and Father Wandile was at the Basilica together with the clergy. Upon his return, around midday, the friar found the doors open and the lights on, and immediately raised the alarm.
The inspection carried out by law enforcement revealed a grim scene: nine doors broken down and several rooms ransacked, including the Administration Office and the Historical Archive, where an armored cabinet had also been forced open. Among the missing items are a monstrance and several chalices, while the overall assessment of the damage is still underway.
Particularly serious was what happened in the chapel used for weekday services. The perpetrators had taken the portable tabernacle, which was later found outside the complex with the consecrated hosts still inside.
As investigations continue to identify those responsible for the theft, the September 4 Mass is meant to be a moment of support and closeness from the diocese to the religious community, deeply shaken by what happened.
