The Church of the Gesu at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was extensively vandalized on March 18, just months after it underwent a $10 million renovation.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the university stated that police have arrested a suspect connected with the incident. The suspect is not affiliated with the university, and the investigation is ongoing.
“We will support the parish as we always have,” the university statement read, “bonded by our Catholic, Jesuit tradition and a shared desire to serve God in all things.”
Father Michael Simone, the church’s pastor, sent an email to parishioners explaining the extent of the damage: The vandal shattered statues and the Stations of the Cross in the lower church and damaged kneelers, chairs, and candle stands in the front of the church.
"The statue of St. Anne which stood at the base of the bell tower stairs was extensively damaged, but aside from that, the vandal avoided destroying any of our most valuable items," Fr. Simone wrote. "He caused no damage to the altar or sanctuary in the upper or lower church. As a result, we do not need to re-consecrate the church, although we will bless the affected areas once the cleanup is complete."
🚨BREAKING: A Catholic church at @MarquetteU has been vandalized. Suspect is reportedly in custody. This is becoming a pattern.
— Kristan Hawkins (@KristanHawkins) March 18, 2026
Week after week, churches, especially Catholic churches, are targeted.
Evil hates what is good, true, and holy. pic.twitter.com/JSUDZC4S8D
The neo-Gothic church was built in 1894, and the recent renovation added new floors, pews, better lighting, and a security desk and camera near the entryway, allowing the church to remain unlocked and open to the public during the day.
According to the Marquette Wire, Fr. Simone said that as far as he understood, the individual responsible for the vandalism was suffering a mental health crisis, and it was not an anti-Catholic attack.
The outlet noted that Fr. Simone was “ready to forgive” and that he encouraged others to forgive the suspect.
“He needs our prayers,” the pastor said. “He needs our help.”
While technically a separate institution from Marquette University, the Church of the Gesu has collaborated with the university since the 1800s, the website states. Now, Jesuit priests serve both the university and the parish, and the university priests sometimes assist with the liturgies. In addition, many of the university events take place at the parish.