Stolen Virgin Mary statue ‘lasting memory’ of school’s beloved VP

Catholic elementary appeals for its return

A west Mountain Catholic school is pleading for the return of a statue of the Virgin Mary stolen from the prayer garden built by a beloved former vice-principal who died nearly a year ago.

“That statue in the prayer garden means a lot to our school community because it is a lasting memory of him,” said Lian Cavarzan, principal of Annunciation of our Lord Catholic Elementary School.

“If anybody knows its whereabouts or if anyone has it in their possession, we’d kindly like to have it returned.”

Philip Oliveira made sure the prayer garden with the statue was in place before he left Annunciation in June 2017 to become principal of St. James the Apostle Catholic Elementary School in Stoney Creek.

The garden became part of his legacy when he died suddenly Sept. 17, 2017.

Annunciation was in the process of having the garden named after the 45-year-old husband and father.

“Phil had a passion for building,” stated his obituary. “He built relationships, children’s futures, small chapels in schools and many projects both at home and at many of his friends’ homes. He loved camping and ice fishing, not only for his love of nature, but for the camaraderie he shared with his friends and family. He is a leader and inspiration to so many people.”

Students fundraised the roughly $400 to buy the statue, which was the focal point of the garden.

Its flooring had a stonework image of a cross, and the Virgin Mary figure stood on a pedestal built by Oliveira at the top.

“The students and staff use the prayer garden all the time,” Cavarzan said.

“They go there for silent prayer, reflection, Christian mediation and sometimes to conduct a religion class.”

Cavarzan is appealing for the statue to be returned before Sept. 4, when students return to the school at 250 Limeridge Rd. W., near West 5th Street and the Lincoln Alexander Parkway.

“I know the students are going to miss it when they come in because it’s the first thing they are going to see,” she said. “It would very kind to just put it back where it was.”

The garden is surrounded by a fence with a locked gate that was under repair Monday and Tuesday.

But the work was finished by the time the statue was taken sometime between Tuesday night and when the school caretaker inspected the grounds Wednesday morning.

“The statue was cemented onto that pedestal, so I don’t how they did that,” Cavarzan said. “They had to put some effort into it. We figured they hopped over the fence and hopped back over it with the statue because the gate and the fence weren’t damaged.”

The statue is white and just over a metre tall (3.5 feet) and weighs nearly 7 kg (15 pounds).

Anyone with information can call police at 905-546-2991 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at crimestoppershamilton.com or 1-800-222-8477.