Baldwin City ? Annunciation Catholic Church’s Virgin Mary statue has been stolen and if whoever took the statue would bring it back – it would be a blessing.

The statue, which was in front of the church on Douglas County Road 1055, was taken during the first week of September. It was there on Aug. 31, and was first noticed missing Sept. 4.

A police report had not been filed as of Thursday, but Tina Alsup, president of the Altar Society and member of the Parish Council, said one soon would be filed.

“Everyone was treating it like it was a joke. I didn’t think it was,” said Alsup. “It’s vandalism and it’s vandalism against the church. I thought something needed to be done other than shaking our heads.”

She planned to get everyone involved with church administration together to piece the missing Virgin Mary puzzle together and let the police know.

“I’m going to get all those people together and we’re going to try to figure it out,” she said.