BY ANDREA TORTORA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FORT MITCHELL -- Tony, Tony, look around. Something's lost and can't be found.
In the Catholic faith, it's traditional to pray to St. Anthony when you've lost something.
When the Rev. Mark Witte's white vestment was missing from Blessed Sacrament Church, he turned to St. Anthony for help.
"He was one of my grandmother's favorite saints and she used to say that prayer," Father Witte said Thursday. "So I prayed and just hoped that maybe the spirit would guide someone to return it."
Someone finally did. On Tuesday. To the wrong church.
The vestment, a traditional garment worn for centuries by priests during Mass, is now at the dry cleaners, after disappearing about two months ago. Father Witte said he'll wear the white garment, embellished with gold and blue detailing at the 4 p.m. Saturday Mass and the 8 a.m. Sunday Mass.
"A lot of people had different theories about what might have happened to it," Father Witte said. "I guess St. Anthony heard our prayers."
No one at Blessed Sacrament is really sure how long the vestment was missing because white accessories are not worn during the season of Lent that precedes Easter.
When the loss was discovered, Father Witte put a notice in the church bulletin.
The vestment has special meaning: It was a gift from his great uncle in Germany in memory of Father Witte's grandmother. He received the present for his ordination in June 1995.
On Tuesday, Father Witte called the Massachusetts monastery that made the garment to order a new one.
That same day, the Rev. Michael Barth from St. Henry Church in Elsmere called with good news. The vestment was delivered to his church with a note indicating that whomever left the garment thought St. Henry's "is Father Witte's church."
"A lot of parishioners were excited when they heard it was returned. My family was filled with joy," the Rev. Mr. Witte said. "I just like to think that the spirit guided someone to return it."
