Thieves steal chalices from Burlington diocesan archives

Published: 2005-04-01

BURLINGTON, Vt. (CNS) -- For the second time in less than two months the Bishop Brady Center in Burlington has been burglarized. Among the items stolen in the latest break-in was a chalice that once belonged to Bishop Louis deGoesbriand, first bishop of the Diocese of Burlington. "A piece of history that represents so much has been stolen from us," said Kevin Scully, a spokesman for the diocese. During a February break-in thieves took audiovisual equipment. Perpetrators of the latest crime, discovered by center employees returning from the Easter break, took a number of chalices, among them the deGoesbriand chalice, from the diocesan archives office in the Brady Center. The chalice has been used during the consecration or installation Mass of each of Bishop deGoesbriand's successors and was to be used April 19 when Bishop-designate Salvatore R. Matano, recently named coadjutor bishop of Burlington, was ordained to the episcopacy.

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