SASKATOON — A nativity scene outside a Saskatoon church is missing its key attraction after a thief or thieves stole the baby Jesus just before Christmas.
Father Andre Lalach with the Dormition Ukrainian Catholic Parish says someone leaving the church on Christmas Eve noticed the all-important plywood figure in the display near the main entrance was missing.
Lalach says there was no snow on the ground until Christmas Day, so there were no footprints to help solve the case.
He says whoever purloined the Messiah faced a tough task getting it out of the ground because the soil is already frozen when his son and others set it up.
The handmade display was created more than 10 years ago and has been erected for the past eight years.
Police are investigating but Lalach is looking for someone to make a new baby Jesus to once again make the nativity scene complete.
“I’m thinking pastorally that someone really needed Jesus in their life at Christmas this year,” said Lalach.
“Perhaps the bright side of this story is that someone who really needed Jesus got him.” (CTV Saskatoon)
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 31. 2019.
The Canadian Press
The Canadian Press
