St. Elias Church rebuilding one stone at a time after devastating fire
St. Elias The Prophet Ukrainian Catholic Church held a special service on Sunday (May 10) to bless the first foundation stone of their new building at the same site where their old church was lost to a fire last year.
The rain mostly held off for more than 200 parishioners and guests who gathered for the ceremony and service led by Bishop Stephen Chmilar of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada.
The ceremony included a special mass, the blessing of the ceremonial first foundation stone and the placing of a temporary wooden cross where the alter of the old church once lay.
"I am so grateful to the people of Brampton for their support over the years, their prayerful support, and to the many who drove by this site," said Bishop Chmilar. "We are going to continue having this visible presence in the community by the new church we build."
The previous church was destroyed in a massive fire caused by smouldering embers from the previous night's service at the beginning of April last year. The blessing of the first foundation stone marks the beginning of the rebuilding process, which is expected to be completed the middle of July 2016.
The new structure will be built exactly where the old one once stood and Father Roman Galadza said the new church will look almost identical with only a few minor upgrades.
"It's pretty much the same. The only difference being, there's about 20 years of codes that have to be brought up. We're still able to do a heavy timber building," said Father Galadza. "(Also), the top domes will be copper rather than shakes. Other than than that, it was beautiful before and we want it back."
Father Galadza told The Guardian last year that it took two years to raise the $2 million to build the first church, but said insurance would be covering the rebuilding cost of the structure itself.
He said the cost to finish and furnish the interior will be covered mostly by the donations of two major donors and the support of many others who made smaller contributions, but declined to name the generous benefactors.
"We don't do too much of that (kind) of advertising because of scripture. It's an interesting scripture, one says don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so we don't talk about who gives money. But the other says let your light shine and let the people see your good works," he said.
The congregation will continue to hold Sunday services in the atrium at Saint Augustine Secondary School in Brampton until construction is complete; while weekday services will continue to be held at another building on the church grounds.
Graeme Frisque
