Posted on 03/22/2013 4:26:45 PM PDT by nickcarraway
All Saints Catholic Mission church on Powerline Road is known for its soup kitchen that feeds the homeless daily.
A fire at All Saints Catholic Mission church in Oakland Park burned its tabernacle and two big-screen TVs on the sides of its altar but left the picture of Jesus at the center of the damage intact reported the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
City fire officials said the fired started around 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
Despite the estimated $60,000 in losses, the pastor said the undamaged Jesus proves that this incident was just a miracle.
“We call it a miracle. Everybody else will call it just a coincidence or good luck," Father Bob Caudill told the newspaper. "It's just a sign that everything's going to be fine."
The church is known for its soup kitchen that feeds the homeless daily, and it was the church volunteers, homeless people showing up for breakfast or dinner, and people driving by that came to help after the fire.
Although much of the church is destroyed and help is needed, the people of the church have chosen to look at the incident positively.
“These are things that can be replaced. We're the church," Caudill said. "Things will be better now. The electric will be new. The windows will be new.”
Fire officials are still investigating the cause of the fire. This weekend, they plan to hold the scheduled Palm Sunday service.
The Lutheran church in Portland, ME where my family were members had a fire sometime before I was born. As I understand it, the only thing remaining untouched was a painting of the Last Supper that was placed over the altar.
Thats ok someone will stomp on it
What the heck are they doing with big-screen TVs on the sides of the altar?
There are no “pictures” of Jesus, other than narrative ones.
I thought Ansel Adams took some?
This is absolutely a true story that was told to me by a very good friend years ago. My friend is Jewish and she would want me to tell you that to add to the credibility of her story.
My friend grew up in the projects in Brooklyn, this would have happened in the very late 60s or early 70s. Her brothers were being babysat at the home of a neighbor and with no malice, but just kids, being you know...dangerous and playing with matches, they started a fire in the parents’ bedroom.
The fire department came, no one was hurt, but all the furnishings, etc. of the room were a total loss.
But...a picture of Jesus that was right in the middle of things (not on the wall, on the dresser or something) was completely unharmed.
This did not convince my friend to convert her religion or anything, but she did always see it as a powerful sign of the power of faith and G-d.
Burned its tabernacle and left the picture unscathed? This is a Catholic church? I’m appalled. The tabernacle is a million times more holy and important than a picture and they call the media in to report the picture untouched?
I can only hope fervently that the Tabernacle was empty. If it was not and they weren’t torn up over it being destroyed, then they aren’t Catholic in any real sense of the word.
I don’t blame the media, they couldn’t be bothered knowing what a Tabernacle is. But the people at the church who called in the media.
Tell me it was empty. Please.
Probably to show the words to hymns.
Uh, well, there’s the Shroud of Turin and nearly all the icons in the world are derived from it.
The Methodist church I attended as a teen had a fire that destroyed everything in the chancel except the altar and font. They were used the very next Sunday in the social hall.
We don't need them to believe.
Reality is wasted on the obtuse.
No it isn't. This is just another example of why you shouldn't rely on the ignorant DLEMM for the truth.
Put lipstick on a pig and you've still got a pig.
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