The 32-year-old man faces charges after an explosive departs at the altar at the Pennsylvania Catholic Church.
Kyle Kuczynsky, 32, of Mahanoi, was arrested in connection with the incident on Tuesday, Mahanoi Police posted on Facebook.
According to the post, the explosive device was fired in the chapel in St. Teresa, Calcutta Rectory.
New: Catholics in a small Pennsylvania town saw a very different kind of white smoke on Tuesday after explosives exploded at a Catholic church.
32-year-old Kyle Kuczynski has been caught up in surveillance video lighting dynamite above the altar of the Holy Chapel…pic.twitter.com/odjy90dlrk
– CatholicVote (@catholicvote) May 8, 2025
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“The belief in the true existence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist is central to the Catholic faith. Using an explosive device to destroy the blessed sacrament is the darkest act of evil.”
“We are heartbroken at the occurrence of such a heinous, hatred and evil act in St. Teresa of Calcutta. This act of religious hatred is humiliated by the long and respectful history of faith among the people of Mahanoi city.
“While offering forgiveness, I pray that those who committed this crime will receive the necessary help and that justice will demand their actions,” he concluded.
According to WNEP-TV, a Schuylkill County judge refused to release Kuczynski’s bail.
Police said the explosion was not injured but caused thousands of dollars worth of damage.
The explosive left a large hole near the corner of the altar, with several holes in the stained glass windows, causing damage to the chapel ceiling.
The incident got caught up in security cameras.
“We looked at the camera and found it to be an adult,” said Father Kevin Gallagher from St. Teresa Calcutta Church. “He went in and placed the explosive device on the altar, illuminated it and ran away.”
Police don’t know why the church was targeted.
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According to Gallagher, security videos from the eve of the incident showed a man who appeared to be out of range in the chapel.
“You feel violated, but the most important thing is that no one was injured. There are a lot of older people who come in the middle of the night, so that’s the most.
“We have so many parishioners. They are in awe of this. They were crying to me this morning on the phone. It’s just devastating,” said Diane Britton, the church secretary.
Kuczynski faces arson charges, risks catastrophe and destroys the worship house.
This article was originally published in the Western Journal and has been reposted with permission.
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