Holy Innocents School unveils restored Mary statue after break-in

Holy Innocents School unveiled a restored statue of the Virgin Mary during its annual gala dinner on Oct. 25. The life-size statue had been at the Long Beach school since it opened in 1958 but was desecrated during a break-in last February.

Guy Hazelzet, a former student who attended the school in 1963, unveiled the statue after donating $20,000 for its restoration. Hazelzet stated the donation was intended to honor his parents, who were longtime parishioners and benefactors of the school.

The gala, titled "Songs for Scholars," was held in the school hall, which underwent renovations following the February incident. The school reported that approximately $500,000 in donations funded the repairs, which included new paint, an air conditioning unit, and a new sound system. Tony Tripp, the director of advancement, noted that the renovations were made possible by donations received after the break-in. The school also acknowledged support from the Shea Foundation and the Duda Family Foundation.