Chuch members asking for your help in finding people responsible for vandalism

Offensive words are staining the walls of one Catholic Church in Utica. Police are asking for your help tonight in finding the people responsible for the vandalism.

St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Catholic Church says people have broken into their church a few years back. But, they say nothing compares to what was spray painted on their church walls over the weekend.

"Punishment will come sooner or later," said Father Michael Bundz of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Father Bundz says it was surprise for him and other members of the church. Police say the vandalism happened during the late evening or early morning hours of Saturday or Sunday at 4 Cottage Place.

Phrases like f*** religion were sprayed on the walls as well as other insults.

"Freedom of speech was taken quite too far. And it's not just freedom of speech. It seems like somebody had a grudge against somebody and it seems like they singled us out for some reason," says church member Mary Brumbaugh.

Mary Brumbaugh says she has been going to the Ukrainian Church all her life. She says it was appalling to see those words written on the walls as mass was held on Sunday morning.

Father Bundz says the clean-up may be expensive and tricky. "We don't know how exactly to clean this because the church has special bricks with polish on the top. We don't know what chemicals to clean it with," explained Father Bundz.

From the break-in a couple of years back to now the vandalism, the church says they will be extra cautious.

"We're going to get a security system. A camera system with night vision and infrared," says church member Chris Salo.

Officials are asking anyone who may have information about this crime to call police.

Other buildings like the law firm behind the church were also vandalized. The church hopes they can clean up the spray paint before the Ukrainian Festival which is on October 19^th and 20^th.