A South Jersey parish is hoping for the safe return of its statue of the Virgin Mary after it was stolen last week.

Police in Camden County are looking for a man who they say walked into a Catholic Church in Gibbsboro and walked out carrying the statue, which stands more than 3 feet tall.

"Why would someone do this? What is the motivation?" asks Monsignor Louis Marucci of St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Gibbsboro.

Marucci said members of the church have identified the thief as a former parishioner.

"We're praying for the statue to be returned without any damage and we're also praying for the person that stole the statue," he added.