"It's especially disappointing when we're in the process of helping people at this difficult time. The food that was taken would have helped quite a number of Napier families and individuals," he said. Read more

Jesse Aaron Harper, 34, had been at a church service before wandering through the adjoining Richmond View School grounds on the evening of March 10. Read more

Emmanuel Jesus Christ Prasad, 27, broke into 13 of his neighbours' Massey homes and took food and things he could sell to pawn shops.

He was yesterday sentenced to 10 months' home detention at the Waitakere District Court for the "spree" by Judge Kevin Glubb who said he needed to deter burglaries but accepted Prasad had mental and physical health issues which contributed to his offending. Continue reading

Leading Holy Land Christians called the burglary at the site "a heinous crime and an act that violates the sanctity of the Holy Sites".

They have asked the police to conduct an investigation. They hope the police will "seriously look into the matter and apprehend the perpetrators who are culpable of these disgraceful act".

The Church of the Transfiguration is on Mount Tabor, near the Sea of Galilee in Israel.

It is held to be the site of Christ's Transfiguration.

Unknown burglars robbed the church Monday. They destroyed the tabernacle, desecrated the Hosts, and stole the ciborium after throwing the Hosts on the floor. A ciborium is a container shaped like a shrine or a cup with an arched cover. It is used to hold the Eucharist.

Icons were damaged, chalices were stolen, and the donation box was robbed.

Although Jewish extremists have targeted some Christian churches and holy sites for vandalism, church officials say they believe robbery was the motive in this instance.

There was no graffiti painted on the church, which is a major pilgrimage site for Christians.

At the Transfiguration, Christ went up the mountain to pray and his appearance was physically changed. He conversed with the prophets Elijah and Moses, according to the gospels.

The Transfiguration revealed Christ's divinity to his disciples Peter, James, and John, who were with him at the time.

Source

• CNA
• Source: See the Holy Land

The break-in happened on Southampton Street in Sydenham shortly before 6am on Friday. Continue reading

Philip Pavich, 55, and Gilbert Southworth, 46, apologised for their actions and gave money to the Anglican diocese.

On March 21, motion-activated cameras detected their entry into the building.

Police arrested the pair after they were caught leaving the cathedral carrying a lectern.

The two men, from the Waikato, had been in Christchurch on a golf trip.

The public prosecutor told the Christchurch District Court there was no public interest in the men being prosecuted.

Continue reading