Saskatchewan congregation mourns church destroyed by fire

The All Saints Orthodox Church congregation in Meadow Lake, Sask., lamenting the fiery destruction of its beloved house of worship on Oct. 1, is receiving compassion and support from the Diocese of Prince Albert.

“The Diocese of Prince Albert and I join the parishioners of All Saints Orthodox Church in Meadow Lake in mourning the loss of their church,” stated Bishop Ken Thorson, OMI, in a statement provided to The Catholic Register. “We extend our heartfelt sympathies and stand in solidarity with the parish community and all who are grieving. We hold them in our prayers, asking God to bring comfort and strength in the days ahead.”

As of Oct. 5, investigators with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency have not yet determined the cause of the fire, first reported shortly after 2 a.m. Oct. 1.

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No injuries were reported.

Meadow Lake Fire Chief Joe Grela confirmed that the “interior of the structure is totally burnt out. Basically, the only things left standing are the four exterior walls.”

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All Saints Orthodox Church, poised to celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2028, was a spiritual hub maintained and operated by residents of Meadow Lake, a small city (population over 5,300) nestled in the boreal forest of northwestern Saskatchewan. Mass was scheduled the third Sunday of each month. These regular services would draw at least two dozen people. Attendance substantially spiked for major holiday liturgies.

All Saints Orthodox Church congregants convened at the local Co-Op centre Oct. 4 for a brunch potluck and prayer service. A determined resolve to rebuild the house of worship emerged from that gathering. Fundraising efforts are already being planned.

Parishioner Jenn Vidal told CBC, “for us the church is not a building. Nobody was hurt and nobody was there. So, we can rebuild and pray that God uses this in a more magnificent way and brings up something out of those ashes that will be through His glory."The parishioners wrote in an Oct. 2 Facebook post that “while our sure hope in Christ is not confined to any structure, we still mourn the loss of our beautiful hall, its many icons and the years of care that were lovingly poured into the sacred space.”

Thorson also highlighted the profound importance of these sacred spaces in his written statement.

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“This loss reminds us how much places of worship mean to our communities today,”  the 60-year-old stated. “They bring people together for prayer and fellowship, inspire service and offer comfort and support through life’s joys and sorrows. As neighbours and fellow Christians, we remain committed to nurturing good relations among all people and supporting one another in times of need.”

All Saints Orthodox Church’s president and caretaker Paul Szpakowski told local media that the rebuild will cost between $2-2.5 million. Insurance is expected to cover most of that sum.

(Amundson is an associate editor and writer for The Catholic Register.)