In an alarming attack at St. Benedict’s Roman Catholic Church in La Romaine, a priest and a security guard were bound and relieved of cash and personal items during what authorities are calling a sacrilegious break-in.

Around 1:10 a.m. on Monday, the guard who is employed with Innovative Security Services, was on duty at the church’s western-side security booth when he noticed a bright light outside. Upon investigating, he observed five masked and hooded men dressed in dark clothing approaching the booth.

The suspects forced their way into the booth, took the guard outside, and bound his hands and feet with rope. Two of the suspects remained with him while the remaining three proceeded to ransack the church’s administration building. The intruders disconnected a TTEC meter affixed to the building, broke into the front door, and carried out a search of the premises.