The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-11-11
A NEW CHAPEL DESTROYED.

A very sad communication was re-
ceived at the offices of the Catholic
Church Extension Society the other
day, conveying the information that
a little chapel, toward the erection OF
which the Society contributed $3.50
year ago, (the people contributing $3.50
as we'll as adobes and labor, had been
DESTROYED. This little chapel was
completed and ready for dedication on
the 7th of October Two days before
this, terrible rain storm occurred,
which flooded the San Juan River.
cutting Pagosa Junction entirely off
from the world, and doing immeasur-
able damage along its course.
At Pagosa Junction it washed away
all the houses: The water reached
as far as the new church, tearing down
the four adobe walls. Surrounding
the church was five feet Of still water,
which, while it did not have very
much force, carried away the win
dows. The roof was left up by mir
acle, being supported by the tower
and the sanctuary. The priest and
the people Immediately propped it up
with strong beams. The woodwork
has not been lost; but the adobes,
which the people themselves had
made, were entirely destroyed. The
people and the good priest are now
confronted with the problem of get
ting the walls up as soon as possible,
before the snow comes, in order to
save the building. To avoid another
catastrophe, it is necessary to build
concrete or stone walls, five or six
feet high, leaving stand strong pillars
which now support the church; and
then the walls from the windows up
can be built again of adobe. The
river is quite a distance from the
church, so that with wall of concrete
five feet high, there will be no more
fear of the river doing damage. This
will be cheaper than to tear the roof
down and build another chapel on
higher ground. The river rose higher
than it has in fifty years and within
the memory of the Oldest inhabitants.
The greatest difficulty confronting
the people is to get money The priest
in charge feels that he cannot collect
anything from the people, for the next
five years, inasmuch as everybody lost
their farms and crops, being left en-
tirely destitute. Unless some help is
given them, they will have to do with
out a church, losing all the work and
money put into the new building. The
roof with shingles and ceiling, the
tower, belfry, choir, sanctuary (Which
is covered with sheeting and is caleb
mined), and the floor, together with
the altar, pews and stations of the
cross we're saved. All these things
are in danger of loss, if something
cannot be done Immediately for this
place.
For three days the poor priest faced
the danger the people were in and for
three nights did not sleep wink. He
was obliged to go on horseback
through the flooded country, to Cone
jos, for altar breads, wine and other
articles necessary for saying Mass, in
order to give spiritual succor to the
people.
The Bishop has made urgent appli-
cation to Extension, asking that some
thing be done to save this church.
The Society has many, many applica'
tons on file for the consideration OF
the Executive Committee on Novem
Der 9Th, and, of course, such assist.
ance will be given as is consistent
with the funds at their disposal. In
the mean time, however, the needs
are exceedingly urgent, and it would
seem that persons desiring to dc
something truly generous would find
in this an opportunity to assist 6
worthy cause, and the officials of the
Society will gladly see that whatever
is given, through them, for this little
chapel, will be sent to the Bishop a
once.