Washington, D.C.:

An unidentified attacker on Thursday caused damage to a statue of the Blessed Mother located in a prayer garden next to a well-known basilica in Washington, DC. The statue located in Mary’s Garden on the grounds of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception seemed to have been hit in the face by a hammer. The light fixtures were also shattered along the garden walkway.

According to the National Shrine’s website, the circular garden symbolizes eternity and has the life-size limestone statue of the Virgin Mary, called ‘Mary, Protector of the Faith.’ The statue by Jon-Joseph Russo portrays the Blessed Mother lovingly cradling infant Jesus. The statue stands in honor of fifth director of the National Shrine, Bishop Thomas J. Grady, who oversaw the construction of the Great Upper Church.

The garden and statue were dedicated by Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States in 2000.

The rector of the basilica, Monsignor Walter Rossi said in a statement to CNA that the damage done was noticed around 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 15 by a visitor praying the rosary in Mary’s Garden and he reported the same to a staff. Rossi added that the damage looked like a recent one since security staff inspects the garden as a part of regular rounds.

“Although saddened that acts of this nature take place, I am more concerned about the individuals who perpetrate such activity and pray for their healing,” Rossi said.

The DC Metropolitan Police Department said the event was under investigation as a potential hate-bias offense. The supervisory public affairs specialist for the Metropolitan Police Department, Tom Lynch told CNA via email that there was currently no reliable suspect information to distribute.

This is not the lone instance of vandalism at the Marian shrine. A marble statue of Our Lady of Fatima reportedly worth $250,000, outside the National Shrine, was vandalised severely in 2021.

In 2022, a pro-abortion group was widely condemned by Catholics, including Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington for projecting pro-choice slogans on the facade of the National Shrine during a Mass and Holy Hour, on the eve of the March for Life.