Photo by Jim Lehocky
CV NEWS FEED // St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Church in Bay Mills, Michigan, held its inaugural blessing and reopening ceremony on Aug. 11, following its destruction by fire in 2021.
Local Michigan news source SooLeader reports that the fire, the cause of which remains unknown, had left the church’s congregation without a place of worship. Services were temporarily held at St. Xavier Catholic Church in Brimley.
Bishop John Doerfler of the Diocese of Marquette, along with Father Dominic Afrifa and several other clergy members, led the blessing of the new church building.
For Father Afrifa, the journey from the fire to the reopening Mass was profoundly emotional. Reflecting on the devastating fire, which led local police to designate the building as “a total loss,” Fr. Afrifa said, “I wept. I cried on that day.” However, he views the church’s reopening as a testament to God’s love, stating, “Today shows that in certain turmoils, He makes Himself lovable and shows us His glory.”
SooLeader reports that the Church’s property was donated by the great-grandmother of Wanda Perron, lifelong Bay Mills resident and church member, who contributed to preparing the celebration feast that followed the reopening blessing. Perron’s children had received all their sacraments at St. Kateri’s.
“Today means a lot to me,” Perron stated. “Our family has been involved in this church since the very beginning.”
