Bolt strikes Cabrini Shrine; Sacred Heart statue armless
Rosa Ramirez, Rocky Mountain News
Published May 21, 2007 at midnight
Lightning Saturday afternoon sheared both arms from the 22-foot-high statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden.
Sister Bernadette Casciano said engineers will inspect the statue to see what other damage it might have suffered. The statue, which is lighted each night, was struck about 4 p.m.
"Both arms are off," she said. "They were struck and smashed completely when they hit the base of the statue."
The adjacent chapel also suffered minor electrical damage.
"During Mass (Sunday), people were giving some money to repair it, but it's too early to tell the extent of the damage," the nun said.
The shrine is located at 20189 Cabrini Blvd. in Golden, about 15 miles west of Denver on top of a hill. It was established by St. Frances Xavier Cabrini to spread the gospel and provide a peaceful space for orphaned children.
The statue was imported from Italy in 1954. It sits on an 11-foot base, and visitors must climb 373 steps to reach it. The shrine is supported by donations and sales from the gift shop.
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