The holiday season is always a busy one, but this year, St. Jude Catholic Church in Redmond saw the type of activity clergy members and churchgoers would rather not have experienced.

The first incident occurred at the church’s 10 p.m. Christmas Mass service on Dec. 24, 2015.

Becky Range, public information officer for the Redmond Police Department (RPD), said there was a disruption when visitors initially parked outside the church and yelled out at people as they arrived for the service.

“They then went inside and were seated for the service,” Range said. “After the homily, the visitors stood up and begin yelling to disrupt the service.”

In a letter to the church’s membership, Father James Johnson, the pastor at St. Jude, described the visitors as “radical protestant fundamentalists.”

“Thanks to some very prudent ushers and an off-duty police officer, the disruption was kept to a minimum,” he wrote.

Range added that the off-duty officer was visiting from another state.

Johnson’s letter — which is posted on the St. Jude website — continues, stating that they later learned that a number of other area parishes experienced similar harassment, as well.

“As I did that night, I invite us to pray for those who do not understand how much we love the Lord and truly worship him in His Holy Catholic Church,” Johnson wrote.

In addition to the disruption during the service on Christmas Eve, St. Jude also experienced some theft during the holiday season.

Range said RPD was dispatched to the church around 9 a.m. on Dec. 29, 2015. Church staff reported that items were missing from a safe.

“Staff confirmed the church and parish office were both broken into and various items were stolen, including cash, gift cards and checks,” she said.

Range said church staff believe the burglary likely occurred sometime Christmas Day or the following day. RPD is currently investigating the case.

In his letter, Johnson said it was the church’s Christmas collection that was stolen, but the weekend collections were not affected.

“We ask that if you saw anything suspicious on Dec. 25 or 26 (2015) or have any information regarding the theft, to please report it to the Redmond Police,” he requested of church members.

Johnson also advised in his letter that anyone who placed a donation in the collection basket on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or mailed in a Christmas envelope the week prior to the holiday put a stop payment on that check.

He also expressed gratitude to those who would consider reissuing a check to the church, asking them to put “Christmas 2015” in the memo line and to turn it in by Jan. 13 so the church can include it in their 2015 financial statement.

Johnson also asked churchgoers to pass along this information to any family or friends who may have come with them to church during this time.

Following the theft, Johnson wrote that the church is reviewing their security procedures to see what can be done to improve upon them. He concluded his letter by asking parishioners to pray for the individuals who committed the crime.

“Finally,” he wrote, “I would ask that you pray for those who would perpetrate this kind of theft against a church, that their hearts may be changed, and that all that was stolen be returned.”