Hospital theft starts a distant prayer

A WEST Australian catholic nun is praying for the people who took sacred items from the St John of God Hospital, Berwick.
Hospital chief executive Tony Hollamby this week appealed for the return of the chapel items and said no questions would be asked if the people responsible wished to anonymously leave them at the hospital, at 1 Gibbs Street, Berwick.
Sister Bridget Muldowney, who in Subiaco packed church vestments and a collection of items for use in the Mass at Berwick, said she would also pray for the people of Berwick, who would be sad about this loss.
Thieves broke in to a unit of St John of God Hospital Berwick and stole the items.
The items were of little monetary value, but of great sentimental and spiritual value to St John of God Hospital.
Mr Hollamby said they were to be used to furnish the new chapel being built by the hospital and came from the St John of God Pastoral Care Centre in Subiaco.
“The thieves broke into Stevenson House, a presently unoccupied section of the hospital, on Wednesday, 18 January, but the items have not been recovered,” Mr Hollamby said.
Mr Hollamby said the thieves stole a chalice, an ornate ciborium (an item similar to a chalice, but with a lid) with a silver exterior and golddipped lining, two Irish crystal cruets, decorative altar cloths and three sets of priests’ vestments as well as a several other pieces.