CHENEY, Kan. (KWCH) – The St. Rose of Lima Mount Vernon Parish is asking for their rose stained glass window to be returned. The window was stolen as they tore down their old church in 2021, and they are hoping to have it back to include in a new parish building.

“I’ve raised my family in this parish and I’ve been here my entire life,” said Tammie Hopper, a Parishioner with St. Rose of Lima Mt Vernon.

Hopper remembers the original St. Rose of Lima Mount Vernon church that stood for over a century.

“The rose window has been there, as father said, the church has been here over 100 years, and that rose window has been here with us,” Hopper said.

Though many things were brought to the new church from the original, like the stations of the cross and the altars, one window remains missing.

“It was such a huge part of our history of the tradition of the church, and for it to be missing was just quite a heartbreak for everybody,” Hopper said.

Although its been four years, St. Rose of Lima Mt Vernon has not given up hope, and as they prepare to build their new discipleship center, they’re hoping for a Christmas miracle.

“That was kind of an iconic piece that we weren’t looking to get rid of,” said Father Dan Duling, the Pastor at St. Rose of Lima Mt Vernon.

Father Duling says that the parish is keeping their hopes up, but they would need to get it back before Christmas.

“We’re very hopeful that it will return and we stay optimistic, because whoever’s responsible for this, I hope they realize and know the importance of that,” Duling said.

In addition, the parish, in accordance with their faith, is ready to forgive those who took the window.

“If we’re going to be examples of that faith, and we got to show it to other people,” Duling said. “And so not pressing charges, not doing this, I mean it’s a completely forgive and forget and show mercy and love, and that’s exactly what we’ll do with this.”

Hopper says the reunion, should it happen, would be a special Christmas present for the community.

“We’ll just be overjoyed to have it back in our possession again,” Hopper said.

St. Rose of Lima Mount Vernon has been working with the Kingman County Sheriff’s Office. The parish tells us that they have ideas of where it might be, but cannot find out without new additional information.

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