A blow and an insult to the entire community of Terralba. Last night the statue of the Madonna di Bonaria was stolen, a fixed stop on the route of the Marceddì procession.
It was some citizens who found the bitter surprise: the votive shrine, which stands on the east road that leads to the village of Marceddì, was empty. The glass window had been broken and the statue of the Madonna taken away. The police were immediately notified and they carried out an inspection.
The news of the theft sparked great anger and dismay in the community, particularly among the fishermen. The statue, approximately 60 centimeters high, was created by the artist Dina Pala and was donated to the community by a family of devotees of the Madonna of Bonaria. It was 1964, since then that niche has become a point of prayer, as well as a fixed stop along the itinerary of the procession for the festival of Marceddì in August, one of the most heartfelt religious events of the Terralbese.
The priests Don Mattia and Don Andrea Desideriamo immediately expressed deep regret «for the ignoble event that occurred last night – we read on the Terralba Pastoral Unit Facebook page – The theft of the image of the Madonna of Bonaria, which had been placed for years in the votive shrine at the exit of our town, it hurts the entire community. In particular the memory of those who wanted to give this sign of devotion and who no longer exists today." The priests conclude: «Hoping for the repentance of those who committed the gesture, we hope that the image can be relocated as soon as possible. If this doesn't happen, we will regain our image and renovate this place so dear to the people of Terralbo."
