Break-In at Our Lady of Perpetual Help RC Church

Our Lady of Perpetual Help RC Church in San Fernando was broken into early Saturday morning (July 18), the latest in a series of robberies targeting Catholic churches in Trinidad.

The break-in was discovered at about 5.20 a.m. when the church was opened ahead of the morning Mass at 7.30 a.m. Police were contacted and arrived at the scene shortly after. Statements were taken from persons who were present at the church.

There was minor damage to church windows and property, but there was “no monetary or valuable loss was sustained.”

The  Mass was moved to the Bishop Mendes Auditorium while crime scene personnel conducted their investigations. Church activities resumed after police gave clearance. Parish priest Fr Matthew d’Hereaux thanked parishioners and the wider community for their continued prayers.

The incident follows a June 2 robbery at St Mary’s RC Church, St James, where two monstrances were stolen. Parish priest Fr Emmanuel Pierre confronted the intruder, who fled the scene. He was not harmed. The monstrances were returned on June 12 along with a letter of apology and $100.

In an incident unrelated to a church on March 17, armed men also entered the Church Street, Laventille compound of the Missionaries of Charity and stole phones, cash and other valuables belonging to the Religious Sisters.