Parishioners and the greater Peabody community have rallied together after a Virgin Mary statue was stolen from St. Anne’s, raising $1,000 in the two weeks since the theft.

Although the monetary donations may fund a replacement, at least one parishioner would rather see the statue returned – no questions asked.

“It’d be nice if that money could be returned or put to a better use,” said Bill Fader, a St. Anne’s parishioner. “We don’t care who took it. We’re not interested in any punishment.”

Fader said the Virgin Mary statue had been stolen from the church parking lot at the corner of Aberdeen Avenue and Lynn Street about two weeks ago. A volunteer had arrived to water flowers in the surrounding garden and noticed it was missing, at which point the police were contacted.

Peabody police

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