Parishioners of St Mary's RC Church in Mucurapo are being asked to pray for Fr Emmanuel "Mannie" Pierre and the church community after bandits broke into the church early yesterday morning and stole sacred religious items.According to information shared with parishioners, the intruders removed the church's monstrance, a sacred vessel used in the Roman Catholic tradition to display the consecrated Eucharist for adoration and benediction, and also attempted to remove the tabernacle, the secure compartment located near the altar where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved.Sources said the bandits succeeded in moving the tabernacle and taking the monstrance before fleeing.Parishioners expressed relief that Fr Pierre was not injured during the incident. It is understood that he confronted one of the intruders, who then fled the scene. Information including a vehicle registration number was reportedly obtained and passed on to investigators."Please pray for Father Mannie and the parish of St Mary's, Mucurapo," one parishioner said. "We are grateful that Father was not hurt, but it is heartbreaking that these sacred items were taken."Fr Pierre, affectionately known as "Father Mannie", is a well-known Catholic priest who marked 40 years of priestly ministry in 2021.