01-06-2025
Community unites after fire damages historic church building
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – Parishioners from the St. John the Baptist Church in Maria Stein went to mass this Sunday at the Precious Blood Church over in Chickasaw.
The church community was invited to the nearby church because of a massive fire that heavily damaged the 135-year-old building on Thursday evening.
'A big loss': Church steeple, roof collapse in massive Maria Stein fire
2 NEWS spoke with two community members about the drastic change in their lives, Ted and Sarah Burgmen, who live close to St. John's.
'It's like our world changed,' said Sarah, 'we thought of all the baptisms, first communions, weddings and funerals which happened there. Over 135 years is quite a history of things that can't be replaced.'
The pair spoke on how the community is looking forward.
'People will rebuild that church,' said Ted. 'The building's gone, but the people aren't.'
'The building is a building, but the church is our community,' said Sarah.
The two churches have been closed before. When St. John's was being repainted, Precious Blood invited over their parish for four months.
'Everybody works with each other,' shared Ted. 'This is one great big community here.'
Maria Stein community assesses damage after devastating church fire
Dr. James 'Jim' Schwieterman spoke with 2 NEWS as he visited the fence outside of St. John.
'This is my community,' said Schwieterman. 'All the sacraments for me, my mother, my grandparents and my great grandparents, all started here at St. John's church. They say 'you try to make the unreal real' and so you come out here to process the loss.'
He continued, speaking on rebuilding.
'I was asked, 'do you think they'll rebuild?' and I said I know they will. It's not an if, it's a when. The local community, Catholic and not alike, we band together. It's who we are, it's what we're about.'
2 NEWS will follow the St. John's community through these next steps.
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