Fire engulfs centuries old Philippine church
Fire destroyed Manila’s Santo Niño de Pandacan Church on the 10th of July which also saw its 400-year-old statue of the Child Jesus and hundreds of antique religious pieces reduced to ashes. Authorities said the fire started on the second floor of the church and was brought under control an hour later, by which time the church’s wooden interior had been gutted.
The Franciscans dedicated the church in honour of the Santo Niño, or the Child Jesus, like the image given by explorer Ferdinand Magellan to the wife of a Cebu chieftain for converting to Catholicism. Two earthquakes destroyed the original church prompting devotees to build the present structure.
“When the fire broke out, the image of the venerated Santo Niño was in the chapel in the convent. The fire spread quickly, and those who were there were only able to save the clothes on their backs,” parish priest Father Sanny de Claro said. Firefighters did not find the miraculous image but only its melted crown and metal sceptre, he added.
Manila apostolic administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo called on people to pray for courage and strength for the recovery of the Child Jesus’ devotees and churchgoers.
“Let us pray for the immediate recovery of the parish. It’s good that no one was hurt and no other buildings were damaged,” Bishop Pabillo said in a statement.
The bishop visited the site to see the extent of the damage and to assess what would be needed for the church’s rebuilding and rehabilitation. Local authorities and parishioners in Manila have pledged their support to rebuild the church.
Source: catholic-sf.org
Image: philstar.com
