Church destroyed by arsonist in Lamar, MO experiences rebirth
Determined to rebuild their historic church and fueled by a $150,000 challenge grant from Catholic Extension, the parishioners of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lamar, Missouri are sponsoring Lenten fish fries, car raffles, carnivals and chili cook-offs, digging deep into their own pockets, and raising an unprecedented $175,000 within a community beset by economic hardship. Catholic Extension announced today that it is fulfilling its pledge.
St. Mary's, originally built in 1904, was the spiritual home and social hub for Catholics throughout the region for generations and to date the only Catholic parish in Barton County. The beloved church was set ablaze by an arsonist on February 8, 2009. The cost of rebuilding is $1.2 million, and the community was charged with raising $400,000 not covered by insurance.
In January 2010, Catholic Extension shared a plan to commit $150,000 to the fundraising effort if the parish could raise at least $90,000 among its 90 families, expecting the parishioners could match the challenge in 6 to 12 months. Yet in just two months, parishioners have accumulated $130,000 in pledges in the small, rural community of 4,500, where the median household family income is $29,000 and 700 residents were laid off from jobs this past year in the manufacturing industry. Recently, parishioners raised $6,000 alone at a Friday Lenten fish fry. A neighboring church in nearby Joplin, also St. Mary's, contributed $10,000 to the cause from its own Lenten fish fry.
Dr. Gene Aug, director of development and properties for the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, lauded St. Mary's parishioners for their resolve to rebuild and credited Catholic Extension's challenge with inspiring people to give.
"These faith-filled people have been deeply committed to making this happen from day one, but Extension's involvement and promise definitely spurred them into more action," said Aug, who noted that other parishes in the diocese and local churches of all denominations also have rallied in support. "The congregation's unwavering perseverance has paid off. They are literally responsible for breathing life into their new home."
Construction has begun on the new church; expected completion is October 2010. The new structure, to seat nearly 200 worshippers, will feature a traditional design and incorporate stones from the old church that survived the fire. In the interim, parishioners are celebrating Mass and gathering together in St. Mary's parish hall, built with Catholic Extension funds in 1978.
"This past year the parishioners of St. Mary's have lost their jobs, their income and their church but not their faith," said Joseph Boland, Grants Director for Catholic Extension. "Their story is reminiscent of the events of Holy Week, which Catholics celebrate prior to Easter--a story of great sacrifice, loss and ultimately hope and resurrection. It is Catholic Extension's honor to be a part of this story." Boland also praised the courage of the St. Mary's community for petitioning the courts last year for a merciful sentence for the arsonist, a young man from a troubled background.
St. Mary's, originally built in 1904, was the spiritual home and social hub for Catholics throughout the region for generations and to date the only Catholic parish in Barton County. The beloved church was set ablaze by an arsonist on February 8, 2009. The cost of rebuilding is $1.2 million, and the community was charged with raising $400,000 not covered by insurance.
In January 2010, Catholic Extension shared a plan to commit $150,000 to the fundraising effort if the parish could raise at least $90,000 among its 90 families, expecting the parishioners could match the challenge in 6 to 12 months. Yet in just two months, parishioners have accumulated $130,000 in pledges in the small, rural community of 4,500, where the median household family income is $29,000 and 700 residents were laid off from jobs this past year in the manufacturing industry. Recently, parishioners raised $6,000 alone at a Friday Lenten fish fry. A neighboring church in nearby Joplin, also St. Mary's, contributed $10,000 to the cause from its own Lenten fish fry.
Dr. Gene Aug, director of development and properties for the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, lauded St. Mary's parishioners for their resolve to rebuild and credited Catholic Extension's challenge with inspiring people to give.
"These faith-filled people have been deeply committed to making this happen from day one, but Extension's involvement and promise definitely spurred them into more action," said Aug, who noted that other parishes in the diocese and local churches of all denominations also have rallied in support. "The congregation's unwavering perseverance has paid off. They are literally responsible for breathing life into their new home."
Construction has begun on the new church; expected completion is October 2010. The new structure, to seat nearly 200 worshippers, will feature a traditional design and incorporate stones from the old church that survived the fire. In the interim, parishioners are celebrating Mass and gathering together in St. Mary's parish hall, built with Catholic Extension funds in 1978.
"This past year the parishioners of St. Mary's have lost their jobs, their income and their church but not their faith," said Joseph Boland, Grants Director for Catholic Extension. "Their story is reminiscent of the events of Holy Week, which Catholics celebrate prior to Easter--a story of great sacrifice, loss and ultimately hope and resurrection. It is Catholic Extension's honor to be a part of this story." Boland also praised the courage of the St. Mary's community for petitioning the courts last year for a merciful sentence for the arsonist, a young man from a troubled background.
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