After devastating church fire, Hope leads the way for Catholic community in Arizona – Catholics in Detroit

CASA GRANDE, Arizona (OSV News) – Hundreds celebrated Mass at the parish center of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Casa Grande over the weekend of Oct. 19-20, even though the parish church was closed indefinitely due to a fire.

Early on the morning of October 18, flames ignited inside the decades-old church. The Casa Grande Fire Department said it took more than an hour and help from five other agencies to extinguish the flames. Fire Chief Dave Kean said there was significant damage inside the main worship area.

According to the chief, initial investigations indicate the fire started in the area near the west side of the building near the electronics and music area. Kean said the fire “significantly burned the south/choop area. The main worship area also sustained heavy smoke and some fire damage.”

No one was injured in the fire and the investigation is in its early stages with the help of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

“We have no reason to believe foul was involved, but because of the large dollar loss and the fact that it is a place of worship, they are supporting us,” Kean said.

More than 6,000 people are registered as parishioners of Saint Anthony of Padua. Father Ariel Lustan, the parish priest, said that masses were well attended throughout the weekend, starting with the vigil on Saturday evening, October 19: “I thought I had to cheer up the community, but they are the ones that inspire me Giving thoughts and words,” he told New Outlook, the Diocese of Tucson’s news outlet.

Father Lustan said the destruction would not disrupt liturgical services. “We will hold masses, baptisms, funerals and weddings in the parish community center. We are also fortunate to have the Chapel of Divine Mercy as an option.”

The existing parish church was built in 1960, but the first structure has existed for almost 100 years. “It is a brick structure with a steel frame. Someone told me that if they can rebuild Notre Dame Cathedral, we can rebuild this church, and I think that is a noble goal,” Father Lustan said.

Parishioners showed up in droves over the weekend, assuring Father Lustan that they would begin identifying leaders who could spearhead the restoration effort. Meanwhile, the priest said he was grateful the parish church had a community center. “I told community members we are blessed to have this center for 10 years,” he said. “The Lord has prepared us for this event. We can continue without interruptions.”

Tucson Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger assured the congregation that the parish church was more than a building.

“A characteristic of Catholicism is that our places of worship are not just places where we pray,” he said in an Oct. 21 statement. “Rather, they are filled with holiness by the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, the water of baptism, the consecrated vessels for worship, and the grace that flows from the celebration of the sacraments. The damage to the parish church is a wound that hurts deeply to the soul.”

Bishop Weisenburger thanked the community for their prayers and support while encouraging faith and trust in God.

“We must allow the grace of God to heal us, strengthen us and unite us in the fulfillment of his will,” he said. “The truth is that the beloved parish church was not built on a foundation of concrete, steel and brick. It was built on a foundation of faith, hope and love, and from that foundation arose a great dwelling place for God.”

“Brothers and sisters, let us be encouraged by the example of the generations before us. For we WILL do like them and build once again a building to the glory of God – a building that will be beautiful, functional and a witness to it.” Our faith, our hope and our love today.