A pole dedicated to peace in front of St. John's Church in Duluth's Woodland neighborhood has gone missing.
Members of the Catholic church noticed on Friday that someone had "taken an axe" to the 5-foot wooden pole -- which has the words "peace," "love," "justice" and "faith" written on its four sides -- and then made off with it, church secretary Annie Goeb said.
John Jereczek, who created the pole, said it took him about a year after purchasing the wood to finish the work. He engraved a peace rose, a vine and a cross above the words, and he painted the engravings red, green and white.
The church was inspired to create the pole after hearing of the late Pope John Paul II's involvement in dedicating them elsewhere, Jereczek said. Then a member of the church's peace and justice committee, Jereczek said he volunteered to create the pole in his free time.
He took a philosophical view of the plunder.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We don't own the pole; peace is ours to share," he said. "If someone stole it and it causes them to reflect on peace, I'd be pleased for them."
Goeb said Monday afternoon she had just filed a police report and that anyone with information about the pole's whereabouts should call the church at 724-6332.
