LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A reward is being offered for a historic cross connected to Louisville’s archdiocese that was stolen days before Christmas.
Now, Spalding University hopes a $2,500 reward will help bring the cross home.
“A few of the founders and sponsors have gathered the funds to offer the reward for the return of the cross,” said Amy Peterson, Co-Founder Contemplative Garden.
The cross was stolen from the Contemplative Garden on campus at 838 South Fourth Street on Sunday night, according to the University.
“Who would steal something like a cross at a contemplative garden a few days from Christmas?” questioned Peterson.
The cross once topped the steeple at the Cathedral of the Assumption. It was donated to Spalding in 2022 by philanthropist Christina Lee Brown as a centerpiece for the Contemplative Garden. The space serves as a representation of the interfaith understanding fostered by the meeting of Thomas Merton and the Dalai Lama.
According to a news release from supporters, “the cross is one of two steeple crosses originally installed in 1858, just six years after the Cathedral opened in 1852. Upon its completion, the Cathedral boasted the tallest spire in America until it was surpassed by St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC. The crosses were removed during the renovation of the Cathedral’s steeple and spire in 1998.”
“The monetary value of this cross pales in comparison to its historical and spiritual significance,” said Brown in a statement. “We pray that whoever took it will come to their senses and return it, recognizing its importance—not just as a sacred symbol, but as a piece of Louisville’s rich history.”
Anyone who knows where the cross might be located is asked to contact Spalding University Campus Safety at 502-873-4444.
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