A vandal ransacked the century-old Star of the Sea Painted Church in Kalapana, smashing windows and religious statues just before its 100th anniversary, leaving the longtime caretaker in tears.

The damage happened in two waves. Over the weekend, someone broke several windows, including stained glass. Days later the same suspect got inside and went further, smashing religious statues, breaking a finger off a statue of Jesus, and damaging irreplaceable artwork. A crystal cross was also taken and later found shattered along a nearby road.

Police arrested a 58-year-old man and charged him with criminal property damage and theft. He is due back in court and will undergo a mental fitness evaluation.

The community is rallying to fix the damage. Glass restoration experts and local artists are stepping in, and a local support network is organizing fundraising to cover the repairs, which caretakers say are hard to put a price on given how much of the artwork is one of a kind.

The church itself has survived worse, having been physically moved in 1990 to save it from an advancing lava flow, and supporters hope the setback becomes a moment to rally more community support ahead of its 100th birthday.

Outlook: Repairs and fundraising are underway, with volunteers aiming to restore the church before its centennial in a couple of years.