Our Lady of Grace statue to return to parish after recent vandalism
GREENSBORO — The beloved statue of Mary that greets visitors to Our Lady of Grace Church will soon return to her position of prominence – spiffed up with fresh paint and more beautiful than ever – after another incident of vandalism sidelined her in recent weeks.
On Christmas Eve, someone sprayed black paint on the 5-foot statue of Mary, with arms extended and palms open, directing graces upon people.
It was the fourth incident in 15 months – but this time the Greensboro Police Department released Crime Stoppers photos of two people on church grounds, seeking the public’s help identifying them.
“Mary has endured much more than this,” said Father Casey Colemen, Our Lady of Grace pastor. “She will be back, just as she has returned before. Mary is always there for us as our Mother, and this statue stands as a comforting reminder of her constant presence.”
Similar spray-paint incidents occurred in October 2022 and January 2023, requiring Mary’s brief departure to get cleaned and repainted. Staff were able to remove paint from a third incident in March 2023.
“People at the church are praying for a conversion of hearts for whomever is responsible for this,” said Matt Fitzgerald, operations manager at Our Lady of Grace. The church recently installed cameras to keep an eye on Mary, and now has the restoration process down to a science.
“We would not leave Mary up there defaced,” Fitzgerald said, “she deserves better than that.”
The statue was originally installed in the church garden in 1998, her 3-foot pedestal inscribed with quotations from Saint Pope John Paul II. Even through storm damage, a kidnapping, and now vandals, our holy Mother endures.
— Kimberly Bender
Know something?
Anyone with information about these incidents can anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000 or www.ggcrimestoppers.com. A Crime Stoppers reward of up to $5,000 is offered for help in solving the case, and photos are available on the Crime Stoppers site.