Parishioners of St Mary's RC Church in Mucurapo are being asked to pray for Fr Emmanuel "Mannie" Pierre and the church community after bandits broke into the church early yesterday morning and stole sacred religious items.

According to information shared with parishioners, the intruders removed the church's monstrance, a sacred vessel used in the Roman Catholic tradition to display the consecrated Eucharist for adoration and benediction, and also attempted to remove the tabernacle, the secure compartment located near the altar where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved.

Sources said the bandits succeeded in moving the tabernacle and taking the monstrance before fleeing.