Parishioners Pray for Return of St. Lawrence O'Toole's Heart

A theft in Ireland has left plenty of community members in Brewster and Southeast feeling a tug on their heartstrings.

Those folks belong to , a parish named after Dublin's patron saint. The preserved heart of that saint has sat in Dublin's Christ Church Cathedral, in a wooden box surrounded by an iron cage, for hundreds of years—up until about a week ago, according to various news reports. It vanished Saturday.

"I found out Sunday morning from a few families," the Rev. Robert McKeon, pastor of the Brewster church, said. "One particular woman was born in Ireland, so she still has lots of roots there. I announced it at the last two Masses, and we're asking people to pray that it turns up."

According to an Associated Press (AP) story on CNN.com, the heart, which was taken after someone cut through the bars of the cage, is Christ Church's "most precious relic." The AP reports that the thief didn't bother to snatch several valuable items, some of which are made of gold, that were also on display.

McKeon is hopeful that the heart will be returned, just as a relic of St. Brigid was after it was taken from a church in North Dublin a few months ago. He said that in the meantime, parishioners at St. Lawrence will keep on praying.

"I've gotten about two dozen emails from people and a few phone calls," he told Patch, adding that many are wondering why someone would go to such "great lengths" to take the heart. "Of course, this doesn't stop the power of St. Lawrence from interceding for us."

The reverend even got a call from a man in Connecticut who doesn't belong to the parish. He wanted to make sure the parish staff in Brewster had heard the news. 

At Mass this weekend, McKeon plans to make special mention of the theft of St. Lawrence's heart. The saint served as archbishop of Dublin in the 12th century.