CARELTON, Mich. -- A 700-pound safe containing religious articles and wireless microphones was stolen overnight Tuesday from a Monroe County church.

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office said thieves broke into the St. Patrick Church on Labo Road in Carleton through two doors near the church's handicap ramp.

The office said the safe, which was kept in the church's vesting room, didn't have any money in it, but the value of the items is estimated to be in the thousands of dollars.

The safe contained three gold-plated chalices and sacred vessels the church used for Communion. One of the stolen chalices was a gift to the church's pastor, Fr. Robert Bauer.

The inscriptions on the chalices include, "To our son, Fr. Robert Bauer, with love, mom and dad on his ordination day," "In loving memory of Lillian Chront," and "In memory of Cindy McGowen."

A large platter that was stolen from the safe is also inscribed with "In memory of Dale Powell."

"It's pretty low, yes, but with the economy the way it is I'm sure we can probably expect more of these kinds of things to happen," Bauer said.

Bauer said the church will be using temporary chalices until it can find a way to replace the stolen ones.

No arrests have been made.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Monroe County Sheriff's Office at 734-240-7401, or the church at 734-654-2500.