Pocono News Section

Church Remains Closed After Ceiling Collapse

Church Remains Closed After Ceiling Collapse - Thursday, August 6, 2009 at 11:20PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Thursday, Aug 6, 2009 @ 11:20pm EST
ARCHBALD, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- Engineers think they know what caused part of a roof to collapse inside a Lackawanna County church.

St. Thomas Aquinas church in Archbald remains closed. Three-quarters of its suspended ceiling came crashing down late Wednesday night.

St. Thomas Aquinas church is nearly 150 years old. Luckily no one was inside the church when the collapse happened. Now the long clean-up process is just beginning but even the extent and cost of the damage is still unknown.

From the outside caution tape is the only sign of a problem at St. Thomas Aquinas church in Archbald. But take a look inside. Three-quarters of the building's suspended ceiling collapsed Wednesday night.

Engineers now say they know why. Dennis Kutch of KBA Architects & Engineers said, ÒBasically, the connection between the trusses and the ceiling structures failed. The wood split."

Firefighter Bob Naughton, who's also a parishioner here, saw the damage firsthand after tons of plaster came crashing down. ÒIt looks like a bomb went off in there with the plaster and everything thrown all around," he said.

Officials say the church is not a total loss. It's still structurally sound. Archbald Fire Chief Bob Harvey said, ÒIt appears as if all the roof trusses, which are an important part of the roof structure, are sound at this point."

Monsignor Joseph Bambera says the church's suspended ceiling was one of its most notable features. Several pews were also destroyed. ÒOur next step right now is very simply to access the extent of the damages and to see where we go from here," he said.

1,800 families attend services at St. Thomas Aquinas. Many hope the diocese decides to make the necessary repairs. Lector John Pryle said, ÒItÕs a place of refuge. ItÕs an identity for the community."

A community which is still coming to grips with what happened. Lisa Romanski added, ÒI said to my son, I said, Oh My God Jordan, that's where I always sit, in the back of the church. Its just unbelieveable."

Church leaders say all services including masses, weddings and funerals == will go on. They'll be held at St. Thomas Aquinas's sister parish, St. Mary's in Eynon.

This coming weekend to help with the crowds they'll also add a special 7:00 A. M. mass on Sunday.