Vandalism delays youth center work party

07/14/2006 Jon Reddy

MOUNT ANGEL — Paint smudged across the front of the big screen television, ransacked offices and stolen electronics were just a taste of the damage done to the Father Bernard Youth Center here the weekend before July 4.

Vandals made off with small electronics, even being so bold as to tear the hard drives out of three of the Catholic youth center’s computers.

“Most of the materials were returned,” said Monica Brown, an employee of the youth center, which just opened earlier this year. “Now we just have to figure out what’s still missing and deal with the insurance details.”

Several young adults from the area were to blame. Local police eventually caught up with them and their cache of stolen goods.

A work party at the center, scheduled for July 15, is now canceled, says Brown, but the center hopes to keep the idea, perhaps rescheduling for next spring.

“It’s very unfortunate that this had to happen,” said Brown, who adds that although the paint smeared on carpets and walls, ransacked offices and mess were terrible to deal with, at least no one was hurt.

“We’re asking folks to please keep the center in their prayers this month,” said Brown.

Housed in a former Benedictine college for women, the center (which has room for 60) is meant to help Catholic youths sustain their faith, say organizers.