( CNN ) -- Small in size , the saints ' relics provide a precious spiritual connection for parishioners at Ste . Genevieve Catholic Church . Still , the church 's pastor and police in Ste . Genevieve , Missouri , a river town settled by French colonists in the mid-18th century , are mystified as to why someone would steal nine of them . They hold little monetary value and would be difficult to sell without their paperwork . `` We are kind of at a loss , '' police Sgt . Steven Poole told CNN Saturday . The theft occurred sometime between Christmas Eve and January 4 , when the dollar-coin-sized containers holding the nine relics were found empty . Those containers are displayed in larger vessels , called reliquaries , that sit on two side altars . For many worshipers , saints help them get closer to Jesus Christ , according to the Rev . Dennis Schmidt . Schmidt said the thief or thieves may have thought the relics , along with any small amount of gold or other metal with them , might make the job worthwhile . Schmidt said he doubts anyone took the items , which can include portions of a saint 's body or pieces of garment , for religious reasons . `` If they had taken one ... I can see that , but to take nine of them , it does n't seem practical , '' he said . `` This will probably be something that will turn up somewhere once they realize there 's no real street value , '' Police Chief Eric Bennett told CNN St. Louis affiliate KSDK . The church has about two dozen relics , one of which belonged to Ste . Genevieve and was placed around the neck of her statue inside the church , said Schmidt . The relic of the patron saint of Paris is now in a secure location . The relics have been part of the Ste . Genevieve parish since the 1930s and 1940s , when the pastor at that time brought them back from several trips he made to Rome and elsewhere in Europe . `` Some people are really upset ... ( asking ) why somebody would do this , '' Schmidt said of the theft . Searches of area pawnshops have yielded none of the relics , Poole said . `` We are hoping we can get help from the community , by word of mouth or at the church or ( someone who ) saw something . '' Because of its history and decor , the church is popular with tourists visiting the largely Catholic town , an hour south of St. Louis . The parish was founded by Jesuits who came from Quebec . Community leaders tout Historic Ste . Genevieve 's heritage , charm and historic homes , some of which were built with distinctive vertical log construction . German immigrants who followed the French founders built rock and brick homes popular with visitors . The town of about 4,400 is on the west bank of the Mississippi River . Schmidt said the church , which serves about 1,100 families , will build a database to get a better handle on records and paperwork surrounding the relics . Leaders also are considering ways to secure the relics by placing them under glass attached to walls . For now , he and others are praying for the return of the historic and spiritual items . While Ste . Genevieve Catholic Church has insurance , the theft of the relics is no ordinary matter . `` How do we put value on it ? '' Schmidt asked .
Nine relics were taken from the Catholic church . The church is named for Ste . Genevieve , patron saint of Paris . The town is known for its rich French-German history .