Joseph in manger is mangled

SOMEONE IS bucking for a stocking full of coal this Christmas.

In a fit of manger anger, a vandal toppled and shattered a ceramic statue of Joseph in a Brooklyn Nativity scene, authorities said Friday.

But parishioners at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church in Cobble Hill have already taken steps to replace the broken statue so the nativity scene will be complete once again by Christmas.

“The devil is working overtime, but he’s not going to win,” Father Joseph Nugent told the Daily News Friday.

The church was alerted to the vandalism at about 12:15 p.m. Thursday when someone rang the rectory’s doorbell and reported that someone was “rubbing Joseph’s head,” according to police sources. The tipster also said the person was pushing the statue.

When church employees went outside, the menace was gone.

But the damage was already done: Joseph (pictured) was lying on the ground in three pieces, Nugent, 73, said. His staff, a 2-foot stick about 4 inches in diameter, was missing.

Nugent said the idol breaker had to jump a few hurdles to get to the statue, which was inside the gated property on Congress St. near Court St.

The nativity scene was put up Wednesday, parishioners said.

Nugent shrugged off the desecration, claiming that, sadly, vandalism at city churches is becoming commonplace.

“It happens,” he said. “It’s not my first incident with people attacking the church."

St. Paul’s parishioners already had a back-up Joseph statue they could use as a replacement — but the stand-in is having some trouble standing.

Moments after the new statue was put in place Thursday, a gust of wind knocked it to the ground, breaking off one of Joseph’s feet. Nugent glued the foot back on, but the statue hit an air conditioner as it was carried back to its spot and fell off again, Nugent said.

Yet the nativity show must go on, the priest said, promising that Joseph will be in place by Christmas.