St. Catherine of Siena Church vandalized three times in the past month

MISSISSAUGA, ONT. - Parishioners at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Mississauga were distraught when they found their church stained with black spray paint Wednesday morning.

A statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus that stands in front of the church was covered in black. The fingers of the statue's outstretched arms were broken off.

Behind the church, graffiti with the words "There is no Jew God" was scrawled across the brick wall and to its left, there was a drawing of a face labelled "Jewsus."

The community has since come together and the damage had been cleared up within a day.

This is the third incident of vandalism in the past month. On April 9, surveillance footage caught a young man breaking into the church, ripping the pages of the Gospel book on the altar and throwing them at the tabernacle.

On May 17, a graffiti drawing of a hand gesturing with the middle finger was found spray painted on the front steps of the church.

Peel Regional Police have yet to determine whether these incidents are connected, but they are being investigated as a hate crime. Investigators are currently reviewing video surveillance footage. Suspects have yet to be identified.

The Archdiocese of Toronto sent a notice across the diocese on Thursday to remind parishes to stay vigilant and to exercise proper safety precautions within their own community.

The police are working with the Archdiocese of Toronto and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board to investigate all avenues.

For anyone who may have information about these crimes, contact the Peel Regional Police, 12 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau, at (905) 453-2121 ext. 1233.