The music ministry at St. Mary of the Angels parish is in turmoil after choir director Rebecca Thompson was discovered selling the church's collection of rare communion wines on eBay to finance a luxury vacation to Europe.
The scandal came to light when parishioner Margaret O'Brien recognized several distinctive bottles from the church's wine cellar listed for sale online. The collection, valued at over $15,000, included vintage sacramental wines dating back to the 1960s, some blessed by former bishops.
"I couldn't believe my eyes," said O'Brien, who had helped catalog the collection during a parish inventory last year. "These weren't just any wines – some of these bottles had been blessed for special occasions and held deep spiritual significance for our community."
Thompson, who had served as choir director for six years, allegedly used her access to the church's wine storage to gradually remove bottles over several months. Parish records show she had been entrusted with keys to various church facilities as part of her duties organizing musical events and receptions.
Father Michael Brennan, pastor of St. Mary of the Angels, expressed his disappointment in a letter read at all weekend Masses.
This betrayal cuts deep, especially during the Christmas season when we should be celebrating the gifts God has given us. We trusted Rebecca with significant responsibilities, and that trust has been violated.
The theft was discovered when Thompson posted photos from her European vacation on social media, showing her dining at expensive restaurants and staying in luxury hotels – a lifestyle that seemed inconsistent with her church salary of $28,000 per year.
When confronted by parish leadership, Thompson initially denied any wrongdoing but later admitted to the sales when presented with evidence linking her eBay account to the missing bottles. She claimed financial desperation drove her actions, citing mounting credit card debt and her desire to visit her elderly grandmother in Italy.
"I never meant for it to go this far," Thompson said in a brief statement. "I thought I could replace the bottles before anyone noticed. I know what I did was wrong, and I'm prepared to face the consequences."
The parish has filed a police report, and Thompson faces potential charges of theft and breach of trust. She has been terminated from her position and banned from church property pending the investigation.
The incident has prompted the parish to review its security procedures and access policies. "We operate on trust within our faith community," Father Brennan noted. "But this situation shows we need better safeguards to protect church property and prevent future incidents."
Several choir members have expressed shock at the revelation, describing Thompson as dedicated and trustworthy. "She seemed so committed to the music ministry," said longtime choir member Patricia Walsh. "It's heartbreaking to learn that she was struggling financially and felt she couldn't come to us for help."
The parish is now working to rebuild its wine collection and has established a fund to help replace the stolen bottles. Several parishioners have already donated vintage wines to help restore the collection's spiritual and historical significance.