Patron saint of lost items reinstalled

On a sunny fall day, the statue of St. Anthony made its way back to the chapel from which it was stolen.

"A good feeling. I guess it's one of those things that we had hoped would happen, but never felt it would," said Norb Jadin.

Slowly and carefully the Jadin family, who takes care of the 1925 chapel, carried the statue down the steep trail to its home.

"Felt wonderful... just wonderful," said Joan Jadin.

That's because shortly after the statue went missing, pieces of something broken were found on a nearby trail.

University Police thought they were parts of the chapel's patron saint.

"We thought, ok it was broken up, and that was it. It was a surprise when we got a call that it was found," said University Police Lieutenant Keith Rosin.

University Police say the statue was found a few weeks ago by a Good Samaritan.

"We had a call from somebody that lives over in the Baird Creek area that noticed a statue was large and painted all white," Rosin said.

It turned out to be the stolen statue.

Besides, the new paint job, St. Anthony was also missing a hand.

"We're so thankful that they didn't break it all... which they could have," said Joan Jadin.

The Jadins found a local artist who painted and repaired the statue.

"He made a wooden hand for it, and you probably wouldn't even be able to tell cause it's all painted," Joan Jadin said.

During the period the statue was missing, visitors to the chapel left messages expressing disbelief the statue was stolen, and hope it would be found.

"Never underestimate the power of prayer; we had so many people praying to find St. Anthony, who finds lost articles! So it's kind of ironic that he did come back," said Joan Jadin.

The Jadins say the chapel will remain open to the public. They just ask that people be sure to keep the door shut.

Police are still looking for whoever is responsible for stealing the statue.

Anyone with information is asked to call University Police at (920) 465-2300 or Crimestoppers at (920) 432-STOP.