Pastor of Catholic church in Flint reacts to man sentenced for vandalizing Jesus statue

FLINT, Texas (KLTV) - It’s been nearly three months since a statue of Jesus was vandalized on the grounds of Saint Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Flint.

On Thursday, Jordan Grey Clark, the man charged with the vandalism, was sentenced to a year in jail.

“Well, I’m kind of feeling in one sense sad, and another sense satisfied, justice is running its course,” said Father James Rowland, pastor of Saint Mary Magdalene Catholic Church.

Clark was charged with criminal mischief following a September 7 incident that left the statue with no hands or nose, a condition the statue remains in still.

“I am hoping that this man, with all of the issue that he has, will receive the help that he needs,” said Rev. Rowland

Following Clark receiving a year in jail, the church feels that they are able to move on and start to rebuild.

“It came to a close pretty quickly after the arrest. So I’m rather pleased that we will be able to move beyond this chapter,” said Rev. Rowland.

Rowland says it will take time, but he’s confident that the church’s statue will one day return to its former glory following the repairs.

“It will have the marks and the scarring upon closer inspection. But it will look like, from where we are, a normal statue,” said Rev. Rowland.

It will also be a permanent reminder of what they went through.

“We will be adding a plaque on the base of the statue, that on this date the statue was vandalized by an individual, who was psychologically and spiritually afflicted, and we invite prayers for all who are so afflicted,” said Rev. Rowland.

Clark will get credit for roughly three months of time served.

Father Rowland says that they hope to have progress being made on the statue repairs in January.

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