Bronze statue of Jesus stolen from Surrey Catholic school

A bronze statue of Jesus was stolen from Saint John Paul II Academy in Surrey.

Silveria Roselli, president of the Saint John Paul II Academy Foundation, told The B.C. Catholic that the statue was stolen at around 3 AM on Nov. 11, according to security camera footage.

In a video posted by the school, Saint John Paul II Academy Society chair Dr. Joseph King is filmed standing outside in the school’s courtyard where the statue was located. In the video, King pointed out where the statue of Jesus was seemingly cut out from the rest of the installation and removed from the premises. “For whatever reason, I have no idea, but it’s a sad thing to have happen,” King said.

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The statue was part of as part of a larger piece of art called “The Last Supper Table”, designed by Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz. It featured a bronze of Jesus and twelve empty stools, which King said was meant to invite “students, faculty, [and] guests to come and contemplate themselves as apostles of Christ.” The statue was installed in 2025.

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Roselli said that the theft has left the community feeling devastated. “It feels like a death in the family,” she said.

“[The statue] embodies why we’re all here in a Catholic school, that Jesus is at the heart of this community. But we trust that justice will prevail. We’re going to do whatever we can to bring our Jesus back.”