'Terrible and tragic': Century-old Catholic church in Morinville, Alta., destroyed by fire

A Catholic church destroyed in a suspicious fire early Wednesday was the "heart and soul" of the town north of Edmonton, where it had stood for more than a century, according to the community's mayor.

"What's happened is a terrible and tragic event for our community," MorinvilleMayor Barry Turner told a morning news conference, hours after the St. Jean Baptiste Catholic Church went up in flames.

"It was really the heart and soul of a lot of what went on in our community and, as I've said before, we cannot replace what was lost today."

Bystanders watched as the steeple, engulfed in flames, toppled from the skyline of the town of 10,600 people, 40 kilometres north of Edmonton.

The charred remains of the wooden structure will be levelled.

Morinville residents are reeling from the shock and grief of the loss, Turnersaid.

The town will look to rebuild on the site, hesaid.

"I'm confident that our community will respond in a way that we can all be proud of."

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. RCMP are looking into the possibility ofarson.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenneyvisited the sceneandcondemned the destruction of churches as "hate-motivated arson attacks."

At least six other Catholic churches on First Nation lands across Canada have burned down in thepast week. RCMP say they are treating the other fires as suspicious.

Kenney said the province will work with police and other law-enforcement agencies to increase patrols at churches that could become potential targets.

Alberta premier condemns burning of Catholic church

3 years ago

Duration 2:18

Albertas premier is condemning the apparent targeting and burning of one of the provinces oldest Catholic churches.The fire at St. Jean Baptiste Catholic Church was reported just after 3 a.m. Wednesday; by 7 a.m., fire crews deemed it a complete loss.

"This historic church was in the heart of Morinville and a key part of the spiritual life of Alberta's francophone community," Kenney said in a statement.

"These attacks targeting Christian churches are attempts to destroy the spiritual sites that are important to people of faith across Alberta, including many Indigenous people."

Fire crewsarrived on scene at 3:20 a.m. local time to find the building fully engulfed and already threatening to collapse.

Surrounding buildings were evacuated. About 50 residents living in the former convent building were forced to leave their homes. That building was damaged by water and smoke. The flames were brought under control by 7 a.m.

The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations says he understands the rage, frustration and pain brought on by the
discovery of unmarked graves at former residential schools, but funnelling that anguish into burning down churches will not bring justice.

"To burn things down is not our way," Perry Bellegarde said Wednesday. "Our way is to build relationships and come together."

'An empty feeling in our hearts'

Phil Schayes, who isMtis,said the church was at the forefrontof his upbringing in Morinville.

"We used to be able to see the church steeple and we don't see that anymore and that kind of leaves an empty feeling in our hearts butthat said, I think it's a time for reflection," Schayes said.

If the fire was motivated by hate toward the Catholic Church over wrongs committed in residential schools, the loss of the building should be seen as a symbol of the need for reconciliation, he said.

Many of hisIndigenous brothers are hurting, he said.

"I feel bad that we're at this point but it has to come out," Schayessaid. "If we've wronged them, which I think that we did, then shame on us.

"Imagine if someone felt so bad inside, so much hate, that they had to burn down a church where so many people found a lot of peace.We can put up another church but a person that is hurting like that, we have to find a way."

Paul Terrio, bishop of the Diocese of St. Paul, issued a statement urging people to resist speculating on the cause of the fire, and askingthat they prayfor parishioners.

Parishioner Eileen Vollmer lives a block away and often admired the church from the window of her living room.

She said she cried as she and her husband watched the wreckage burn. Vollmer said many of her family memories are connected to the church.

"My mom was baptized here, had her first communionand confirmation here,got married here and had her funeral here," Vollmer said. "Our children were baptized there and we always went to church here."

Vollmer has lived in Morinville since 1960 and attended the church since she was a young girl. She often helped the congregation welcome its newest members, she said.

"I made all the little baptism capes that were given to each baby that was being baptized and I just finishing making 12 little first communion veils for the little girls."

The church is a landmark in the town and was a frequent gathering place for residents,said Vollmer, one she admired for the history it shared both with thetown and her own family.

"It's just very sad."

About 50 firefighters were called to the scene, Morinville said in its statement.

Iain Bushell,the town'sgeneral manager of community and infrastructure services, said flamesspread quickly through the old wooden structure. The building was already threatening to cave in by the time crewsarrived.

"There was already fire in the basement as they attempted to enter the buildingit was already charged with smoke. And they could already hear the sounds of collapse on the inside so then they evacuated."

The structure, completed in 1907,is a "complete loss,"Bushell said.

"The St. Jean Baptiste Church is an iconic church," he said.

"It's part of the landscape."

Supportis available for anyone affected by their experience at residential schoolsand those who are triggered by these reports.

A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to providesupportfor residential school survivorsand others affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.