Catholic Church Goes Up in Smoke Days Before Christmas

St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, was reduced to nothing but a pile of rubble after an electrical fire started early Sunday morning December 21^st 2008. Since the 1930s the building had stood across from Murray State College since it was moved from Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge.

A nearby neighbor said that they has heard a loud boom around 1 o'clock in the morning and was shocked by the sight of a fire that started in the front entrance and bell tower of the church building.

Firefighters are still investigating the cause of the fire and won't know anything until the test results come back. It's rumored that improperly trained new firefighter employees knocked down the church walls without permission before the fire marshal could get to the scene and determine the exact cause. Because of this it may never be known exactly what started the fire. Sources speculate it was electrical, although the fire started at the front entrance.

The losses are expected to come to a total of just over $100,000. Insurance is expected to cover the damages. By the grace of god, no nearby structures were damaged in the fire.

A local firefighter was hurt fighting the blaze by a fallen tree branch and was treated at the scene.

The bell from the bell tower and chalice were the only things that survived the blaze. A small miracle presented itself in the form of what remained in the chalice. Bits of consecrated Eucharist were burnt into the chalice leaving perfect imprints of what the chalice held. The bell was charred and cracked on both sides. A member from St. Anthony's Church believes that it can be salvaged and used once again. Charred remains and bits of metal are all that's left of the small chapel that stood for so long.

Father Thomas O'Toole served mass Sunday mornings at St. Anthony's. One member of the church who is 80 years old has been going to mass there since she was a little girl.

Members of the church plan to rebuild if funding is received. If it will still remain in the same location is still being debated. Plans to add a kitchen and hall are also being discussed. Mass and group meetings are being held at the Sanders home located at 9000 S Rock Creek Road, in Tishomingo Ok.

In tears the members of the church remain strong in faith and hopes for a new church to one day be built, saving the bell and chalice to display in the future.