By Ruby Thomas, Record Staff Writer
HORSE CAVE, Ky. — The faint smell of smoke lingered in the air as Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz celebrated Mass for parishioners of Our Lady of the Caves Church Dec. 11 in the parish hall — located next door to the fire-ravaged church building.
Our Lady of the Caves in Hart County, Ky., was engulfed in fire in the early morning of Dec. 9. As of The Record’s deadline on Dec. 13 investigators were still trying to determine the cause of the blaze, which started in a storage room directly behind the church, said Father Thomas Reagan, a member of the Fathers of Mercy who serves as associate pastor.
The investigation by local, state and federal authorities, is still on-going, he said.
The storage room was completely destroyed, but Father Reagan said it’s not certain whether the church is a “total loss.” The church building is still standing, but the roof has collapsed.
Fire authorities have cautioned people to stay away from the building, a caution that Father Reagan relayed to parishioners during Mass Dec. 11. He asked them to remain “patient” for the time being.
The church’s St. Bernadette Hall, which sustained no damage and can hold about 60 people, was quickly turned into a worship space by parishioners and the Fathers of Mercy, who administer the church. Mass was celebrated in the hall the evening of the fire.
Masses, which will be celebrated on the parish’s normal schedule, and confession will be in the parish hall until further notice, said Father Reagan.
People can reach the parish through St. Helen Church in Glasgow, Ky., of which Our Lady of the Caves is a mission. The parish offices are combined. Father Reagan said the office has been inundated with calls since the fire and its small staff is struggling to handle the volume of inquiries.
Our Lady of the Caves, parish home to about 75 families, was blessed in 1954.
At the beginning of Mass, Father Reagan spoke to those who had gathered, his voice calm and measured. He acknowledged that there are many questions and few answers.
“I encourage you to remember that through these types of things God’s will is done. That doesn’t mean we understand it,” he said. “I don’t understand it, but I know that God knows what he’s doing.”
Father Kenneth Soroko, pastor of Our Lady of the Caves who is currently in New Hampshire, said in a message to parishioners that he too encourages them to put their faith in God.
“Although we’ve suffered a great loss, we will get through this,” the pastor said. “God has a plan. We need to have great faith and trust in him.”
During his homily, Archbishop Kurtz said to those who’d packed the small parish center that they were not alone.
“That’s why I am here today,” he said. “When a church has a problem, the family comes together. He reminded them that it was Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent and a time to “rejoice.” The archbishop said he was aware that many may have been thinking “this is not the day to rejoice.”
He told his listeners that it’s possible to rejoice in the midst of great trials. He used as an example St. Paul who wrote his epistle to the Philippians, considered an “epistle of joy,” while he was imprisoned. Like Father Reagan, he encouraged them to be patient.
Archbishop Kurtz also encouraged those gathered to commit to keeping the “parish functioning” while the “church is being physically restored.”
The parish needs to continue to do three things he said. First, parishioners must continue to worship and receive the sacrament of reconciliation.
Secondly, he said, they need to keep “announcing the Good News of Jesus Christ” and lastly, “keep serving the needs of others,” he said.
Through their shock and grief, many parishioners are doing what they can to keep their spirits up. Following Mass Dec. 11 a lively group came together for breakfast.
Dr. Ann Marie Matteson and her three children were among those who attended Mass and gathered for breakfast afterward. Matteson said she was married in Our Lady of the Caves Church.
All three of her children were baptized and two made their First Holy Communions there.
Matteson said she was grief-stricken when she learned about the fire.
“I bawled and bawled,” she said, still visibly moved by what had happened. “You don’t think it’s going to hurt that much, because you know it’s the Eucharist that’s important.”
She never imagined, she said, that her children would not receive their other sacraments in the small church, built in 1953.
