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In search of the Grinch who stole Joseph

An important figure in the Christmas story has gone missing. It's not Santa or Rudolph, but the father of the Holy Family, Joseph.
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There is someone missing from this familiar Christmas scene. Joseph was stolen from the Nelson cathedral.

An important figure in the Christmas story has gone missing.

It's not Santa or Rudolph, but the father of the Holy Family, Joseph.

"This morning [Wednesday] some parishioners came for the daily mass and saw a dangling cord where Joseph used to be," said Bernadette Miles, the administrative assistant for Cathedral of Mary Immaculate. "We looked closer and obviously Joseph was missing."

This is the first year that the Catholic Church has set up the nativity scene in front of the Cathedral.

Some had suggested that the Holy Family be put in a place that was less accessible, but the decision was made that it would be put closer to the sidewalk so that children could enjoy it.

According to Miles taking Joseph from his family was no easy feat.

"I checked with Bernie Zimmer, he installed it, and he said that he had screwed down in to the plywood," she said. "I went and looked and all the other ones are fastened down, so someone would have had to have had a screw driver or something. The cable with the light is still there. They took Joseph and left the light."

The big question Miles is trying to answer now is "Who would steal Joseph?"

"Maybe it was just for fun and maybe they parked him somewhere. Maybe someone will notice him and bring him back to us. It would be kind of nice to complete the family for Christmas," she said.

"There's a cute little shepherd in there and Mary with the baby Jesus, why Joseph? Maybe he was the most accessible? I don't know," said Miles.

Joseph is believed to have gone missing on Tuesday night.

If anyone has seen him please contact Miles at the Cathedral office at 250-352-7131.