Monday March 8, 2004
	An open letter to the individual who smashed out the office building windows stained with the  image of the Virgin Mary, Clearwater, Florida.
	Dear Sir:   As you know, you broke out the top three panes of glass that showed what appeared to be the Virgin Mary's head at the Shepherds of Christ Ministries building just off U.S. 19 in Clearwater, Florida. (No I'm not a member but I did drive by the image often). I'm not going to ask you why you did it, I think I already know all that.  But I thought I'd write you and tell you about a few people I've recently met. Have you got a minute, sir? Margaret Cruz lives in Largo Florida and she is 69 years old.  In 1996 Margaret was diagnosed with brain cancer.  Also in 1996 her husband Anthony of forty one years was killed while crossing a street.  She has been coming to the building on U.S. 19 with the image of Mary and praying asking for help wanting to get beyond her troubles while she raises her 10 year old grandchild, Aaron.           "The image has made a difference in my life," she told me.  "They could break all the glass and I would still come.  This place is special and I am still here with my grandchild because of it." Margaret says you could break all the glass, sir, and she'd still come. Near the large life-size wooden cross stands Ronald Meyer 57 of Palm Harbor. "It hurt to see Mary's head busted out," said Meyer.  "I'm hoping that when they put in the new panes that her head somehow reappears." Meyer is waiting for a new heart and he tells me that he feels better when he prays and wished he started earlier and tells me about the canoe he wants to build with his wife. "I promised her when I married her 39 years ago that we'd build a boat together." He's hoping that when they put in the new glass panes that the Virgin Mary's head will reappear, sir. The image is 60 feet high and more than 20 feet across and looking at those panels is Janice Coppinger 43 of Clearwater.    "I don't see the knocked out glass," she says.  "She's (The Virgin Mary) still there and in one piece and she's beautiful." Janice has been coming to the office building on U.S. 19 to see the Virgin Mary since 1999 and she isn't sick and she doesn't know anyone that is sick but she prays for anyone and everyone.  "I'm praying for you," she says to me. Janice doesn't see the knocked out glass, sir, and she's praying for you right now. As you know, you broke out the top three panes of glass that showed what appeared to be the Virgin Mary's head at the Shepherds of Christ Ministries building. With that, I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to read this. Sincerely, Norm Augustinus Florida On Monday March 8th workers reinstalled the broken glass panels.  Ronald Meyer hopes the Virgin Mary's head somehow reappears. UPDATE:  18-year-old Clearwater resident Kyle Maskell was arrested on May 10th and charged with felony criminal mischief.  He is a sophomore at Clearwater Hugh School.  He asked that police apologize on his behalf to the Shepherds of Christ Ministries. On Monday July 12 Maskell was sentenced and given 10 days in jail and ordered to pay $1,200 in damages to the ministry.  The Shepherds of Christ Ministries refused to press charges. PREVIOUS   HOME   NEXT