Hometown Station video screengrab
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati announced that St. John the Baptist Church in Maria Stein, Ohio — the same church the local fire department declared lost May 30 after a fire — could still be restored.
As CatholicVote previously reported, the fire destroyed the church’s steeple and roof, and nearly 20 local fire departments worked together to save the structure, which was built in 1891.
WHIO reported that as of May 30, both the pastor of St. John the Baptist and the archdiocese stated that they are still assessing the damage of the fire.
Jennifer Schack, the archdiocese’s director of media relations, explained that the steeple fell away from the church building, and the portions of the roof that did not burn away fell directly into the nave.
“They think those two elements indicate that the walls may still be structurally sound,” Schack said.
Schack added that the fact that the walls have stayed up “is a very good sign.”
Archbishop Robert Casey visited the community on May 30, celebrating Mass at Precious Blood Catholic Church, which is close to St. John the Baptist and part of the same parish family.
“This is what we do as family,” Archbishop Casey said in his homily. “When faced with difficult situations, when confronting the depth of mourning a loss, we come together, we lean on each other, we lean on God.”
Parishioner Kay Sanders explained the significance of the fire’s devastation.
My kids were baptized here, they made their first communion, they married here,” she said, “and I’ve buried two husbands here.”
Sanders was grateful for Archbishop Casey’s visit.
“That meant a lot,” she said. “I mean, that means he’s paying attention to us.”
On June 1, St. John the Baptist’s usual Sunday Mass times were held at Precious Blood Church in Chickasaw.
