Our Lady of the Lake has announced on its Facebook page that the church will re-open for mass on Thursday, April 18. The church was damaged in an early morning fire on April 4 and it has been using the auditorium of Our Lady of the Lake School for masses since then.
“Things are not yet perfect, but we are able to go home,” Father Peter Wehrle wrote. “It will take time for new pews to be fabricated to replace those burned in the fire. We are working to replace and repair statuary, both inside and outside, depending on the severity of the damage. The organ will also need extensive cleaning each individual pipe to remove the ash and cinders left behind by the smoke that filled the room. A temporary instrument will be put in place by next weekend. Most important, however, is that we are able to return home by the grace of God. Thank you all for your prayers and financial support.”
Father Peter told parishioners earlier this week that the church has gotten a $40,000 estimate for repairing the pews and a $500,000 estimate on repairs to the organ. While the church has property insurance, Father Peter said that there is a $10,000 deductible on the policy and then the church must pay an additional 10% of the total cost of the cleaning and restoration.
OLL’s daily mass schedule is 7 a.m. and 12 noon, Monday to Friday, and 9 a.m. on Saturday. The weekend mass schedule is 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 12 noon on Sunday.
