On Saint Patrick's Day, Saint Patrick Roman Catholic Church had it's first Mass in three years at it's newly rebuilt sanctuary. 

"It is a new beginning. We will be celebrating Palm Sunday, then Holy Week, then Easter. We will have weddings back here in our parish. The community comes back to life in the four walls of the church," Father Michael Swierz said.

January 18, 2021, three years ago smoke and flames tore through Saint Patrick Church in Hubbard.

Saint Patrick Church in Hubbard has been home for parishioners for 150 years.
 
There were tears as hundreds of people gathered as word of the fire spread almost as quickly a flames that burned the church. 
 
People whose parents took them to Mass as children there, who then took their children to mass were devastated, as they recounted weddings, baptisms, and other significant family events there.
 
"Everyone's emotions were all over the place," Father Michael Swierz said.
 
Mass was moved next door to the Parish Center as the work to rebuild continued. 
 
There were setbacks in obtaining needed construction materials after the COVID pandemic.  
 
The fire caused millions of dollars in damages, but flames and embers only fueled the commitment by the Catholic Diocese to rebuild.  
 
Sunday Saint Patrick's Day the church reopened doors for the first Mass at the newly restored and rebuilt Sanctuary.
 
About one thousand parish members and visitors celebrated Mass.
 
During the last three years the choir has grown. 
 
Ever since COVID and the fire we tried to put new life into the music ministry starting with our bell choir, our regular youth choir, as well as trying to grow and expand our adult choir as well," Assistant Music Director, and Choir Bell and Children's Choir Director Joe Spurio said.
 
"To go back into a space that really when you enter it lifts up your spirit, and brings you into that really devout personal space with the lord," Spurio added.
 
He tells 21 News members of the music ministries and congregation are excited to get back in there.
 
Parishioners happy to be back in the Sanctuary to worship Christ and celebrate important family milestones.
 
"Our families have been baptized here, and communion and all the events, the weddings to see that move forward with our new
families in our parish and community is very exciting," Andrea Murray said. 
 
The Honorable Bishop David H. Bonner gave the Homily at that Mass.
 
On WFMJ Today Bishop Bonner said, "It was a painstaking and timely process that demanded resiliency. Many, many hands and three years later and here we are. It was a huge investment but thank God for insurance, what a blessing that was."
 
"As people walk in I think they are going to feel the embrace of grace, and of God. That is a holy place anytime we cross the threshold and enter into a church building it takes us into a different realm,"  the Honorable Bishop Bonner said. 
 
Father Michael Swierz said, "For the past three years we have stayed together. ... It's with a happy heart we come before the Lord. We have so much to be thankful for. All the prayers, generosity of so many, hard work of so many around the valley.  The tradesmen and women and all those who have spent time on rebuilding our church, and especially the patience of our parishioners."

"Our future is full of hope because without hope we are nothing, without faith we are nothing," Father Swierz said.
 
"It is a new beginning. We will be celebrating Palm Sunday, then Holy Week, then Easter. We will have weddings back here in our parish. The community comes back to life in the four walls of the church," Swierz added.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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