Holy Innocents School Unveils Restored Virgin Mary Statue
The Long Beach school revealed the statue during a gala following a $500,000 renovation of its hall.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Awards
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Holy Innocents School in Long Beach unveiled a restored Virgin Mary statue at an annual gala. The ceremony follows an extensive $500,000 renovation of the school hall necessitated by a February 2026 vandalism incident.
Why it matters
The unveiling marks a significant milestone in the school community's recovery efforts after the destruction of the chapel and interior spaces. Donations from the public and private supporters allowed the campus to restore holy objects and complete necessary repairs.
The school hall restoration cost $500,000 in total, supported by $150,000 in public GoFundMe donations and a $20,000 gift for the statue from Guy Hazelzet.
The players
Holy Innocents School
This educational institution serves the local community in Long Beach.
Sanctus Fidelis
This organization managed a crowdfunding campaign to support the restoration efforts at the school.
Guy Hazelzet
This individual provided the specific donation required to fund the restoration of the school's Virgin Mary statue.
The details
The February 2, 2026, break-in resulted in the gutting of the Blessed Sacrament chapel and the damage of several religious items. Volunteers and staff worked alongside donors to restore the site, with further arrivals of replacement items like a new bronze tabernacle from Spain and Stations of the Cross expected in the coming months.
Timeline
The original statue was installed at the school in 1958.
Vandals broke into the campus on February 2, 2026.
The restored statue was unveiled during the gala on October 25, 2026.
The school plans to re-consecrate the statue on October 30, 2026.
The restored Stations of the Cross are expected back in February 2027.
Culture Shift
The restoration efforts follow the 2026 Holy Innocents School vandalism, highlighting a community-driven trend of reclaiming and repairing historical religious spaces after damage. This shift prioritizes the preservation of legacy assets against modern threats to local institutional heritage.
Local residents and families connected to the school may see changes in campus accessibility as ongoing restoration projects continue through 2027. The successful fundraising efforts indicate a shift in how the community manages recovery costs for damaged neighborhood landmarks.
The takeaway
The restoration of the statue underscores the importance of community support in preserving local landmarks after unforeseen damage. Individuals facing similar institutional setbacks may find success in leveraging targeted crowdfunding and philanthropic donations to expedite recovery timelines.
What happens next
The school is scheduled to hold a re-consecration ceremony for the restored Virgin Mary statue on October 30, 2026.
Further reading
For more information on local campus events, visit the Long Beach Awards section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Angelus News.
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