Vandalism shatters Our Lady of Luján statue in Buenos Aires; chapel burns in Pehuén-Co with “666” graffiti. Probes underway as faith communities rally.
Newsroom (04/11/2025, Gaudium Press ) Two separate acts of vandalism against Catholic shrines in Argentina have stunned local communities over the Halloween weekend, prompting police investigations and acts of spiritual reparation. The incidents involved the destruction of a revered image of Our Lady of Luján in Buenos Aires and the arson of a chapel in southern Buenos Aires province.
In the capital’s bustling Liniers neighborhood, Father Lucas Arguimbau, a priest at St. Cajetan Shrine, revealed on November 2 that an outdoor shrine dedicated to the Blessed Mother—located just down the street from the main church—had been vandalized. The image of Our Lady of Luján, Argentina’s patroness, was shattered into pieces during the attack, which occurred over the previous weekend.
The shrine, situated at the corner of Juan B. Justo and Cuzco streets in a high-traffic area equipped with security cameras and near a police station, serves as a communal gathering spot for special occasions. It housed the statue behind a protective grille and glass enclosure.
A local resident discovered fragments of the destroyed image, including the hands, and delivered them to the shrine. Following the 11 a.m. All Souls’ Day Mass on November 2, Arguimbau addressed parishioners: “A neighbor brought us the hands of the statue of Our Lady of Luján, which someone had attacked at the shrine,” according to reports from La Nación.
Accompanied by the parochial vicar, a seminarian, and several laypeople, Arguimbau visited the site post-Mass. There, they found broken glass, the pulverized statue of Our Lady, and a toppled figure of St. Cajetan on the ground. A crucifix remained untouched.
Unlike prior unreported incidents, Arguimbau filed a formal complaint at Police Station 10B, submitting the statue’s remnants as evidence. Authorities are reviewing security camera footage to identify the perpetrators.
In response, Arguimbau conducted a brief act of reparation at the scene. “We are going to ask God to bless this place again, and we pray especially for those who come to the shrine, for those who broke the image of the Virgin. We ask that God bless us, protect our neighborhood, and grant us peace in our hearts, as St. Cajetan always did, in good times and bad, sowing good,” he said. He blessed the site with holy water, and attendees recited a Hail Mary.
St. Cajetan Shrine is now exploring enhanced security measures for the outdoor site as the probe continues.
Separate Blaze Destroys Chapel in Pehuén-Co
The Buenos Aires vandalism was not isolated. In Pehuén-Co, a coastal town in southern Buenos Aires province, Holy Family Chapel was razed by fire on the same weekend. Father Adán Caraballo, who oversees the Sacred Heart community and the chapel, told El Rosalenio that the blaze originated inside the structure, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
Post-fire graffiti, including the number “666” and other markings, appeared on the site, raising suspicions of intentional desecration tied to Halloween. “The church could have burned down at any other time of year, and it just so happens on this day, and the graffiti appears on this very day,” Caraballo said. He framed the event through a faith lens, criticizing the global trivialization of “the night of the witches, like Halloween.”
While hoping the markings were a post-incident prank, Caraballo described the destruction as “something serious.” Longtime volunteers were left heartbroken, he noted, but the community has rallied with “incredible generosity” to aid rebuilding efforts.
Amid the loss, Caraballo highlighted a consoling detail: The tabernacle, containing the Eucharist, remained intact. “Jesus was intact, the Eucharist was intact,” he said, calling it “a miraculous sign.”
No arrests have been reported in either case, and investigations by local authorities are ongoing. The incidents have underscored tensions around religious symbols during secular holidays, with community leaders urging vigilance and unity.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Catholic World Report
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