September 2019, Vol. 37, No. 8
The official publication of the Diocese of Austin
En Español: Páginas 23-26
Westphalia: Hope remains despite devastating fire By Alfredo E. Cardenas | Correspondent
Shortly before eight in the morning on July 29, Falls County Precinct 3 Constable Jerry Loden received an urgent phone call from his sister-in-law. Smoke was coming from one of the towers at the Church of the Visitation in Westphalia. Loden, a member of the Westphalia Volunteer Fire Department, began calling other members. About the same time, personnel at the Westphalia School District, located adjacent to the church, called 911. Within minutes members of the local fire department were pouring water on the church. Firefighters were rushing to put out the fire with water tanks. Soon other fire departments in the area were on the scene, more than 50 firefighters and 25 fire trucks from nine different departments responded. But they were fighting against the odds. The church, nearly 125 years old, was made of wood. The winds were too strong. And the small unincorporated community of Westphalia does not have fire hydrants. Within an hour of the first reports, the historic structure was a heap of smoldering ruins. Fortunately, they were able to save the nearby pastor’s residence and the landmark convent and school, and no one was injured. Hundreds of parishioners stood in shock, watching the inconceivable scene. Memories of baptisms, first Communions, weddings and funerals rushed through their minds as they turned to each other in grief. “It’s like a death in the family except its every family. We are feeling the deep grief, and you call someone, and they are feeling the same way.
Everybody has deep, pervasive grief. They’re all sad,” parishioner Renae Willberg said. Sadly, parishioners at the Church of the Visitation are not alone. Late in the evening of Feb. 7 of this year a fire of “undetermined cause” leveled the Mooreville United Methodist Church. Like Our Lady of Visitation, it was made of wood. It too was a historic chapel, more than 100 years old. And it was located in a rural community in Falls County, less than 20 miles directly north of Westphalia. “We’ve seen miracles come out of this fire,” Pastor Dennis Rejcek said. Like at Church of the Visitation, the pastor said people stood watching the church as it burned. He heard them say “its just a building, the people are the church.” Father Edwin Kagoo, who has been the pastor of Visitation Parish since 2016, echoed those sentiments. “We can’t just look back in despair, but we need to look forward with hope,” Father Kagoo said. “Because God’s dreams are better than ours. I know it was a tragedy, but sometimes God uses these tragedies to teach a greater lesson. “Each of us must become a disciple, a growing disciple of Christ, but that’s not enough; we should be growing disciples for Christ. That’s our mission as a church. I always ask what will Westphalia be 20 years from now? Now may be the time for us as a church to be focusing to spread out our faith, not in a building but as a community. “Is it enough to look back at your previous glory,” he asked, “or will it grow, and will the church be the center of their faith? I’m hoping and praying that something good will come out. Maybe God is calling us to be a living church rather than a monument.”
As the fire raged, volunteer firefighter and parishioner Nathan Wilde was circling to the rear of the church when he was stunned by a scene inside. Amidst the raging fire stood a statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Wilde pulled out his cell phone and photographed the scene. Father Kagoo, who is devoted to the Blessed Mother, said the statue seemed to be saying “I’m here even in the midst of the fire. I am not going anywhere.” And this was not the only sign Father Kagoo got in the aftermath of the blaze. He recalled a parishioner who
A statue of Mary can be seen amist the flames of fire that engulfed Church of the Visitation in Westphalia on July 29. The 124-year-old church was destroyed; however, the community plans to rebuild. (Photo by Nathan Wilde)
makes rosaries had donated a cardboard box with rosaries, each wrapped in a small plastic bag. He had placed it at the entrance of the church for anyone needing a rosary to take. In the rubble, he found one of those plastic rosaries still wrapped in its plastic bag. Despite the raging inferno, it had not
See FIRE on Page 3
Bishop’s Interview
Back to School
Aftermath of violence
Español
Bishop Joe Vásquez admires the faith and tenacity of Westphalia community. PAGE 17
More than 5,000 students are back in the classrooms of Central Texas Catholic schools. PAGE 5
After the shootings in El Paso, the church, local priests offer comfort. PAGE 12
Profesional de la música comparte su talento con parroquias, diócesis. PAGE 25