God gave the world the Son “so that everyone who believes in him might not perish,” this Sunday’s reading from John’s gospel informs us. Parishioners at a Catholic Church in California pray that a relic stolen from the church has not perished, and they said they have reason to hope for its return: The 780-year-old object belonged to Saint Anthony of Padua, patron saint of lost items and missing persons.

The relic was stolen from inside a cabinet beside the altar at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Long Beach on Monday, the feast day of the church's namesake. Father Jose Magana, the pastor, said he decided to bring it out this year, on the 780th anniversary of the death of Saint Anthony, because during rough economic times many of his parishioners have lost hope.

The church opened its doors at 6 a.m. and when Magana turned to the relic during the 9 a.m. Mass, it had disappeared. Magana could hear his parishioners gasp when they realized it was gone, but he continued with the service and called police immediately afterward.

The last time the relic was on view was eight years ago, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the parish. Magana said it is invaluable and deeply symbolic to his parish. "It's our history, so it's irreplaceable," Magana said. "It belongs to the church, not just the church here in Long Beach but the entire Catholic Church."

"I'm hoping we've got some higher sources who’ve got our backs here and we can get it back," Magana said. "People here are pretty upset, but they're praying. They're praying to Saint Anthony for the return of his own object."

++ STORY UPDATE: Thursday evening, Long Beach police confirmed that the relic has been recovered in good condition and returned to the church and a suspect has been arrested in the case.

Source: An article by Raquel Maria Dillon for the Associated Press