By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

EDGARD – Parishioners of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edgard were shocked this weekend when vandals threw rocks through the stained-glass windows behind the altar of the 90-year-old structure.

“The parishioners were devastated,” said the Rev. Joel Cantones.

Parishoner Eric Roussel was the first to discover the damage Saturday morning.

“I came in about 9:30,” he said. “I walked in like usual and saw funny lights coming from the glass.”

He said that was when he noticed the gaping holes in the large windows behind the altar.

“All the stained glass was scattered everywhere,” said Cantones, who was notified immediately.

Also found inside were stones — about the size of large oranges, according to Cantones. One of the rocks, as it crashed to the floor, even chipped a large fragment from one of the marble steps leading up to the tabernacle.

The stones were of the same type found at the nearby ferry landing, according to the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Besides standing about 20 feet off the ground, the windows have protective glass on the outside as well as the leadwork throughout the glass that is typical of stained-glass creations.

Cantones noted the targeted windows were not only the hardest to actually reach with a thrown rock — the rows of stained glass that line the sides of the church are much closer to the ground — but also form the center of worship for the congregation. In fact, the center window depicts St. John the Baptist. That window had four holes in it.

“That person knows well how to hurt the church,” said Cantones.

Deacon Warren Pierre concurred.

“It appeared to me to be strategic,” he said. “I’ve never seen this kind of devastation in regard to the church.”

According to Cantones, the windows were built in Munich, Germany, and set in place in 1920, the same year the church was consecrated.

“The glass is irreplaceable,” he said.

He said the insurance company had already been informed of the damage, which church representatives estimate at between $300,000 and $1 million. But he said the main focus right now is to find those responsible.

“It was an attack on what this church represents,” said Cantones.

He said they have also begun to discuss ways to beef up security to prevent something like this from happening in the future.

The perimeter of the church is already equipped with security lights, but he said they are considering installing cameras.

Despite the considerable damage, Cantones said he feels lucky the stones did not damage the intricate marble work of the tabernacle itself.

Although church representatives said this was the first time the church has been deliberately damaged to such an extent, it is not the first crime to occur on church grounds.

In 1975, someone broke into the rectory and murdered Pastor J. Alcide Clement, Sister Mary Patrick Harrington and housekeeper Leah Lejeune.

Anyone with information regarding the vandalism is asked to call St. John Detective Scott Guillory at 985-359-8769 or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111