Seaford church hopes to get stolen items back after Deer Park man arrested
James Vollaro, 58, was arrested on Wednesday after removing the items from Maria Regina Church, according to the Nassau County Police Department.
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A Seaford church remains without some of its religious items after a Deer Park man allegedly stole sacramentals from the building.
James Vollaro, 58, was arrested on Wednesday after removing the items from Maria Regina Church, according to the Nassau County Police Department.
The Rev. Jason Grisafi said the stolen items included an altar cross, other crosses and statues, some of which have more than physical value.
"These have a type of religious value to them that goes beyond just a material value," Grisafi said.
Grisafi said the items were used for prayer services and private devotions and that many parishioners pray with them and see it as way of connecting to them spiritually. He said the altar cross meant a great deal to him because he got it while on a Pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
Police said Vollaro was located at his home and arrested after the incident. He was charged with grand larceny and will return to First District Court in Hempstead on Oct. 21.
Grisafi said he was grateful to parishioners for reporting the stolen items. He added that they have not been recovered, but he remains hopeful.
"For those other items that were part of those shrine areas, there's really not much to do to replace them," Grisafi said. "They're kind of irreplaceable. If they're found, great, we'll put them back. If not, new people with new prayers will bring things forward."
