A vandalism attack on St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Mission over the weekend has left parishioners shocked.

Churchgoers arriving for Mass at 9 a.m. on Mother’s Day were shocked to find “666” and “Judge me” scrawled across church doors and in various locations around the building in white spray paint.

“We pray for the vandals and that their hearts be transformed,” the parish said in a statement on its Facebook page one day after the attack.

Father George Edattukaran, pastor, told The Abbotsford News that while some people were “rattled” when they saw the writing, business at the church will go on as usual.

“We are not nervous because we do not get intimidated by these things,” he said. “There is no reason for this to be written on private property. We are not causing a problem to anybody.”

Father Edattukaran said he filed a report with Mission RCMP May  13 to keep a record of the incident. “I don't expect they will do anything about it unless they take it up as a hate crime, which it is. We are not pressing for that,” he told The B.C. Catholic.

He added he is worried publicity will provoke “copy cats” to vandalize the church a second time.

Story updated 9 a.m. May 14, 2019.