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Posted on 03/15/2005 6:19:49 AM PST by NYer
MADISON, Wis. -- Firefighters spent Monday putting out hot spots after an early-morning blaze destroyed St. Raphael Cathedral, 222 W. Main St., in downtown Madison, near the Capitol.
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The fire was reported at about 5:30 a.m. Monday. Large plumes of dark smoke could be seen from all directions toward the Capitol. Several area fire departments were called in to help Madison firefighters contain the fire. Firefighters got the fire under control at about 8 a.m. Monday. The fire burned through the church's roof and it collapsed. Firefighters spent much of the day working to save the church's steeple, which is a downtown Madison landmark.
It's unknown how the fire started.
At noon Monday, officials said they had planned to take the steeple down to protect the 100-foot spire from possible collapse. However, Monday night, they said the structure is secure enough to leave it up, for now. Workers from Findorff Builders were planning to use large cranes to bring the steeple down safely.
Findorff just erected the brand new spire in November. It was considered the crowning jewell of a million-dollar restoration of the church. The high-tech spire was designed to withstand the test of time -- as well as fire. The inside is made with steel and fire-treated wood. The outside is copper.
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No one was injured in the three-alarm blaze.
All streets within two blocks of St. Raphael, including Fairchild, Henry and West Main, were shut down to drivers during the fire Monday.
Due to the fire, several streets in the vicinity remain closed through Tuesday morning -- basically the block immediately surrounding the cathedral:
Shuttles are running again Tuesday from the Alliant Energy Center. Shuttles will run from 6 to 9 a.m.; 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; and 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Tommy G. Thompson Commerce building at the corner of West Washington and Fairchild was evacuated because of the fire. Since the commerce building's air handling system would draw smoke into the building from the still-smoldering fire scene, it remained closed the rest of the day, but the building will be open Tuesday.
Some say it's a miracle the 40-ton steeple at St. Raphael's survived an early-morning blaze that destroyed the city's oldest Catholic church.
St. Raphael's is about 150 years old, making it the oldest Catholic church in Madison. It's the center of worship in the Diocese of Madison.
Msgr. Paul Swain told News 3's Rob Starbuck he was in the building when the fire broke out and actually heard about the fire on a radio report and quickly got out of the building. Swain said the timing of the fire is unfortunate considering next week is Holy Week and the Easter holiday is soon; however, he remains optimistic.
"Our faith is not built around buildings, it's built around Christ who rose at Easter," he said. "The whole theme of Easter is light coming out of darkness. We are people of hope. We'll persevere and move forward."
Bishop Robert Morlino of the Madison Diocese regularly celebrates Sunday mass at St. Rafael and told News 3 he's in a "state of prayer and a state of shock."
Hundreds of people of all backgrounds turned out to watch the church burn Monday -- staring in disbelief at the scene.
"It's so sad," downtown alderman Mike Verveer said Monday. "I've been here since about 6 a.m. and just seeing the number of people coming up so emotional, tears streaming down their cheeks .... when you think of all the memories that took place in this beautiful edifice."
In addition to Easter celebrations, Madison is near its 150th birthday and honoring landmarks, such as St. Rafael's, is to be part of the festivities.
"It's a very sad day for Madison," said Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz. "We're about to celebrate our sesquacentennial as a city-- the building's actually two years older than the city."
Wonder if Swain had the presence of mind to get the Blessed Sacrament out of the church?
Catholic Ping - Come home for Easter and discover God’s merciful love.
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A structure built to be unburnable burns down and a priest murdered near Milwaukee last week. Weird.
The ACLU will sue because fireman used public water to put out the fire...
LOL, don't give them any ideas.
As sad as this is, it will be a pretty easy re-build.
As you can see, the brick walls are thick, and largely un-damaged. The steeple is intact. What was lost was the truss and roof deck. These can almost be viewed as routine replacement items on a Cathedral. Also lost, of course, are a lot of the interior fittings and stained glass. Let's hope the modern replacements are not too horrid! But if the Parish Hall next door is any indication, I would not be too hopeful...
Damn. Breaks my heart. It was beautiful. This picture is from last spring.
Five will get you ten that it was arson. And it is 2-1 that when the final story is written one name -- the University of Wisconsin -- will somehow be highlighted.
Five will get you ten that it was arson. And it is 2-1 that when the final story is written one name -- the University of Wisconsin -- will somehow be highlighted.
the street corner by this church is a hangout for homeless drunks. wonder what the arson investigation will turn up.
The Cathedral was indeed beautiful. Mass was celebrated daily at noon and 5pm and it was truly inspiring to see 100 to 200 people worship together on any given day of the week.
God bless,
EODGUY
I have never understood the notion that it is urgent--even at risk of life or limb--to rescue the Blessed Sacrament from fires. Is Jesus in danger of being killed?
Haven't seen you for a while. Welcome back.
Doesn't a desecration of the Host requires a purposeful attack?
After all, doesn't the washing of sacred linens in the sacrarium result in particle of the precious blood being washed down the drain?
Even unintentional carelessness is a sinful desecration, as well as a purposeful attack. And apart from any intentionality, desecration is an objective fact, just as the Eucharist is an objective fact which does not rely any the disposition of the communicant for its existence.
After all, doesn't the washing of sacred linens in the sacrarium result in particle of the precious blood being washed down the drain?
(1) The sacrarium drain leads directly into the earth and is not mingled with sewage or water from other sources.
(2) The sacred linens are supposed to be washed until the traces of wine are so diluted as to no longer be wine - since He is only present under the species of wine and bread, when all semblance of wine and bread disappears He is no longer present.
Thus, He is only physically present in the communicant for a few minutes. Also, recall the pious practice of fasting from the evening before Mass and drinking only water for the hour following Mass.
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Paul Swain: "Our faith is not built around buildings"
