The court heard the man stole two bottles of wine from a supermarket and damaged the car.
Neil Masters, of no fixed address, was sentenced to ten weeks in prison after pleading guilty to charges of criminal damage and theft at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates' Court.
The court was told the 31 year old approached Fr John Johnson of St Mary's RC Church on Standishgate for help after leaving hospital, according to Wigan Today.
The prosecution told the court that Fr Johnson said he would see if he could help if Neil Masters came back the next day.
Mr Masters returned and picked up a paving slab and began hitting the Nissan Micra car which was parked outside the church.
The priest was then left with a bill for around £2,000 to fix the smashed windscreen, other windows and dents to the car.
The prosecution read out a victim impact statement, saying that the incident on 19th April had impacted on Fr Johnson, who himself was not well.
Nicola Ormerod, prosecuting said: "He was surprised and shaken up by the experience.
"He said he is a kind and forgiving man who would never mean any harm to anybody and couldn't believe he treated him like that."
The court was told Mr Masters was found inside of the car semi-conscious.
He told police officers he had been shoplifting regularly since leaving prison and CCTV footage was matched to him stealing wine from a supermarket in the area.
He also told police he wanted to go home, he was asked where that was and replied "prison."
Defending, Peter Moran said: "It is a very sad indictment.
"The circumstances speak for themselves, he was released from prison and after living with his dad for a few days went on his way drinking and occasionally misusing heroin.
"He left Wigan Infirmary and went along the usual route into town past the church. When he was told to come back the following day he was still drunk and caused the damage which he apologises for."
Magistrates ordered him to serve ten weeks in prison and pay £300 compensation to Fr Johnson.
