The destruction of a statue that sits in front of St. Bartholomew's Church in Yonkers Sunday is the latest act in a string of church vandalisms.

Father Anthony Bassey said he found the statue of St. Bartholomew smashed to pieces and spread across the lawn of the church early Sunday morning. Congregants were shocked at the incident and expressed hope that those responsible would be brought to justice quickly.

The incident is the latest in a string of vandalisms occurring across the Hudson Valley. A statue of Jesus was decapitated at St. John and Paul Church in Larchmont in December, and the baby Jesus was stolen from the Church of the Resurrection in Rye. Menorahs were also defaced in Mount Kisco and Orange County. Police have yet to make an arrest in any of these cases.