‘A difficult hurdle’: Parishioners gather at Franklin church while repairs continue

FRANKLIN, Mass. — Together, on the Sunday before Christmas, parishioners at St. Mary’s Church in Franklin gather in the church basement for mass. Not their typical home of the stunning church upstairs, but it will be due for now. Back in October, the church was set on fire forcing them to have to make a temporary home here in the basement.

“There’re a lot of folks were confused and hurt and still a lot of pain from having their main church missing and it’s been a difficult hurdle,” said Father Bob Poitras.

Now the inside of this beautiful church looks like a construction zone almost unrecognizable after smoke and water damaged the inside. Investigators say the cause of the fire was arson. They are still trying to find out who did it. And why.

Since that terrible day, the church community has been finding joy in the little things. Like seeing each other together, in their church even if it looks different.

“Everyone just almost embraces and greets each other maybe more enthusiastically now because of what we’ve all gone through,” said Tim Hurdelbrink a parishioner at St Mary’s for the last 40 years.

Even though Christmas masses won’t look the way they have looked in years past. The community of Franklin has made sure that the parishioners of St. Mary’s can still celebrate the holiday season.

“They’ve given us the high school the auditorium at the high school to have our biggest mass for Christmas,” said Fr. Bob. “That will help tremendously.”

Christmas Eve mass is the most attended, with extended families coming to celebrate the holiday. Now, because of the generosity of the community opening the high school, they’ll be able to accommodate everyone who wants to come.

St. Mary’s hopes to re-open and be ready by Easter Sunday.

Investigators are still looking for tips on who could have information on the arson. Anyone with information is asked to Call the Arson Watch Reward Program at 1-800-682-9229.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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