Statues replaced at Sudbury shrine after vandalism in 2020
There are currently a dozen statues at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes property, and all are from the 1950s.
In the summer of 2020, six of the statues were beheaded by vandals.
“There was a lot of going back and forth with the artist who basically had to reconstruct the statues,” said David Sirois, of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie.
“So, they did the clay statues initially and then from there they did the mould and then they poured the bronze and that was done overseas. Then last fall we did get the shipment of the statues, but it was a little too late in the season to install them because it was too cold. So just last week it was warm enough that we were finally able to put them back on site.”
Although the cost of replacing the statues is not being disclosed, Sirois said insurance covered most of the expense. He added that the vandals were never caught.
“We never found any information on who or why they did it," he said.
"Although, we think it’s because of financial issues and not because of political issues or religious issues … Probably salvaged it or something, melted it down and just sell it as bronze because the statues were from the 1950s and at that time the content of bronze would be high copper content, so a little bit of value at this time.”
There are now seven surveillance cameras on the property.
The Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie will be holding a fundraising event at the Caruso Club on Sept. 29. All money raised will go toward covering the cost of maintenance.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Federal government bans watercraft from Manitoba lake popular with tourists
The threat of zebra mussels has prompted the federal government to temporarily ban watercraft from a Manitoba lake popular with tourists.
Her SUV was stolen in Montreal. A Good Samaritan on Facebook helped her get it back
Just as she had feared, a restaurant owner from eastern Quebec who visited Montreal had her SUV stolen, but says it was all thanks to the kindness of strangers on the internet — not the police — that she got it back.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Toronto police called to Drake's Bridle Path mansion for another alleged intruder on Thursday
Toronto police say a man who allegedly attempted to access Drake’s Bridle Path property was taken to hospital on Thursday after an altercation with security guards.