BREAKING NEWS | THE MISSION CHURCH OF ST. JUNIPERRO SERRA IN CALIFORNIA CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED OVERNIGHT –
BREAKING NEWS | THE MISSION CHURCH OF ST. JUNIPERRO SERRA IN CALIFORNIA CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED OVERNIGHT
A massive fire devastated an eighteenth century mission church in San Gabriel, in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, July 11. Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles called the fire at San Gabriel Mission church, founded by St. Junipero Serra, “devastating.”
The fire began early Saturday morning around 4 a.m. and destroyed the roof and interior of the 249-year-old structure. Local firefighters said they responded to an initial alarm at 4:24. By the time they arrived, smoke and flames were visible from outside the church – which is a California Historical Landmark.
The San Gabriel mission was the fourth mission founded by St. Junípero Serra, a Franciscan priest who founded a trail of missions across California. Serra helped to convert thousands of native Californians to Christianity, and taught them new agricultural technologies.
Via: Catholic News Agency
