California: Fire destroys most of iconic Mission San Gabriel church

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That’s too bad, but there honestly wasn’t much in that church except near the altar, which all seems to have been saved. They were in the middle of a renovation for the 250th anniversary next year, so I’m wondering if this is going to be another case of a careless contractor. In any event, better it happened now than after the renovation.
With all the fuss about St. Junipero Serra, they’re bound to get some big donations to rebuild, too.
 
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Tis_Bearself said:
That’s too bad, but there honestly wasn’t much in that church except near the altar, which all seems to have been saved. They were in the middle of a renovation for the 250th anniversary next year, so I’m wondering if this is going to be another case of a careless contractor. In any event, better it happened now than after the renovation.
With all the fuss about St. Junipero Serra, they’re bound to get some big donations to rebuild, too
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This was right near where the Juno Serra statue got pulled down. I am wondering if BLM burned the church also. Outside work had begun in preparation for its 250 anniversay.

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Very sad! I was just there last year. 🙁 Since I live in the area, the fire reminded me a little of the Notre Dame Cathedral fire, even though the San Gabriel Mission is nowhere near as grand or as beloved around the world. But this mission has survived extensive damage from numerous earthquakes. The walls are thick, solid adobe. They will rebuild, I’m certain.
 
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Let us all ask his intercession then to help the church rebuild. Servant of God Fr. Ellacuria, please intercede, help us, help California and help your church rebuild! Thank you in advance for your help.
 
JulianN said:
The city has released a statement that there is currently no evidence of arson.
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Reports I read said it was still under investigation. Sadly the church had just completed 200,000 dollars of renovations and was scheduled to be re opened.

Will wait for further information.
 
gam197 said:
Reports I read said it was still under investigation. Sadly the church had just completed 200,000 dollars of renovations and was scheduled to be re opened.

Will wait for further information.
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“…in a statement, the city of San Gabriel said, “Though a formal cause has not yet been determined, a preliminary investigation shows no immediate sign of arson.”
 
JulianN said:
…in a statement, the city of San Gabriel said, “Though a formal cause has not yet been determined, a preliminary investigation shows no immediate sign of arson.”
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Articles I read said it was still under investigation. Fire happened today Saturday so give them some time to bring in people of knowledge.
 
I’m just saying that, until arson is confirmed —or even postulated—no one should be musing about whether BLM burned the church down.
 
So sad to learn of this.
We are residents of the San Gabriel Valley for over 50 years and and have had family members go to school there.

St. Gabriel, Pray for us.
Tis_Bearself said:
…Servant of God Fr. Ellacuria, please intercede, help us, help California and help your church rebuild! Thank you in advance for your help.
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More “stuff” about the Mission:
  • Adrian Marquez Alarcon, spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, said that because of renovations underway at the church ahead of its 250th anniversary, historic paintings and artifacts had been removed and were not in the building at the time of the fire.
  • A baptismal font consisting of a hammered copper basin and silver pieces donated by Spanish King Charles III in the late 18th century also survived, according to San Gabriel Mission spokeswoman Terri Huerta.
  • The altar, which was not damaged in the fire, was handcrafted in Mexico City and brought to California in the 1790s. Six wooden statues, which were hand-carved in Spain and brought to the U.S. in 1791, were restored in 1987 after an earthquake.
  • San Gabriel Valley regional auxiliary bishop David G. O’Connell said that despite Saturday’s fire, normal Sunday Mass will continue at the mission’s chapel, with social distancing and COVID-19 limits holding attendance to 100 people.
  • Earlier this year, following widespread protests against systemic racism, the San Gabriel Mission removed its statue of St. Serra from the front of the church to a less public part of its campus.
  • The Mission is a “contender” for the oldest building in the L.A. area…
 
As a former electrician, I’m always prepared to read the words, “The fire was caused by faulty electrical wiring,” and my heart sinks a little every time.
 
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