By Aaron Beswick
The Chronicle-Herald
July 4, 2011
http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1251691.html
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| Some of the parishioners who are organizing to rebuild St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Maryvale, which was lost to fire on April 13 after serving the community for more than 150 years. |
MARYVALE — Wayne March writes Tigh Dhe, Gaelic for "House of God," on the St. Mary's Parish Hall blackboard each Saturday afternoon.
Parishioners show up early to set up the altar, the priest comes in and the mass is held a few hundred yards away from where their century and a half-old church burned on April 13.
After mass, March wipes off the blackboard so it can be used for card games the next evening.
But if Maryvale's Catholics have their way, they will be in a new church before the snow blankets Antigonish County.
"And it'll be built to last another 150 years," said Eugene Gerrior, a member of the church building committee.
There had been anxiety in the community that the Diocese of Antigonish would refuse permission to rebuild. The diocese is raising $18 million to pay lawsuit settlements related to the sexual abuse of parishioners by priests since 1950. It is also facing a shortage of priests.
But on June 25, Bishop Brian Dunn gave the parish permission to rebuild during a confirmation ceremony for eight young people.
While the Catholics in northern Nova Scotia have seen their church community rocked by sex abuse scandals, the rebuilding of St. Mary's has become a rallying cry.
"That was the church hierarchy, not us," said Pat Lee, a parish member.
"It doesn't affect our faith and we're moving on from that. Building this church is about our personal faith and our faith in the future of our community."
But building a church has changed since Maryvale's men went into the woods during the mid-1800s to cut, haul and hew hemlock for the original St. Mary's church. The fundraising committee, which has $300,000 from the old building's insurance, estimates it needs to raise over $200,000 more.
A week after receiving permission, it has over $30,000 raised.
An account has been set up at the Bergengren Credit Union in Antigonish, along with the website www.maryvalechurchbuildingfund.com and a Facebook page.
"It's really brought the community together," said Lee.
Electricians and plumbers have volunteered their time, a local drafting company is designing the new building for very little cost and donations continue to pour in.
The new church will be built on the footprint of the old building, atop a hill overlooking Maryvale. It won't be as tall, but it will have electricity and, importantly, indoor plumbing.
"You used to not drink anything the afternoon before church," said March.
"That privy could be some cold in the winter."
Contact: abeswick@herald.ca
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