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Churches Merge After Ceiling Collapse

Churches Merge After Ceiling Collapse - Sunday, August 9, 2009 at 2:18PM EST

Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Sunday, Aug 9, 2009 @ 02:18pm EST
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LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- Tragedy was avoided earlier this week when a church ceiling collapsed in Archbald, just a few hours after dozens of children were inside. Sunday morning, parishioners from that church joined with another -- a year earlier than planned.

"It was a tragedy, but it could've been a disaster," said Bob Paone, a life-long parishioner of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Archbald. He recalled what he saw a few days earlier. The ceiling inside St. Thomas collapsed Wednesday night. About 30 kids were there for Vacation Bible School earlier in the day.

"Not one soul was hurt, not one person was injured," said Monsignor Joseph Bambera during an 11:30am Sunday mass. He was reminding St. Thomas parishioners of that blessing in a joint service at St. Mary's in Eynon. There's an added Sunday mass to accommodate more people. The churches were set to consolidate next year -- but at St. Thomas.

"And boy, what a difference a day makes, and we realize we're not the ones in charge," Msgr. Bambera told Eyewitness News. "Because this week we find the people of St. Mary's making the people of St. Thomas feel welcome."

He says it could take months to repair the ceiling at St. Thomas -- plaster, beams, and canvassed paintings became one with the pews. Those historic murals might be salvageable, because they weren't painted in the actual ceiling plaster. Experts continue examining the fixes needed, but Msgr. Bambera expects the church to re-open. Its 800-seat space is needed for next year's consolidation.

Paone says this unplanned merge might ease the transition.

"I'm sure it will. I'm sure it will," said Paone. "It was going to come regardless."

Regardless of what parishioners originally wanted. But he says, God's timing is always best.
 


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