“From the Ashes” – Mud Lake community rebuilds chapel following tragic fire

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) - The St. Ann's Catholic Church in Mud Lake has finally been rebuilt after the fire of the summer of 2021. The congregation leadership has invited the south-east Idaho community to a Sunday open-house to celebrate.

"We've had support from several communities throughout Idaho who have reached out, donated, and prayed," Parish communications director Gisselle Montalvan told Local News 8. "We want to give them the opportunity to come and see what they have done."

The Open House will begin right after the 9:30 AM Mass and continue until 3:30 PM. Refreshments will be provided.

"It was a complete loss"

Built in 1963, the chapel served generations of a faithful community, until a lightning strike caused a fire in July of 2021.

"Luckily, one of the neighbors here heard the thunder. They saw the flames coming out of the basement window... and reacted quick enough," Montalvan said. "It took roughly three, five hours to stop the smoke, stop the fire. It was a complete loss."

Sunday mass continued thanks to the help of their neighbors, but the local catholic community still felt the personal loss.

Montalvan says the congregation took advantage of the reconstruction to expand the church. While saving the heritage of the original.

"We were able to rescue some of the items inside the church that night. So the tabernacle behind the altar holds us and there was the Blessed Sacrament...the cross that goes just behind the altar that was taken down. It feels good to know that we'll have a little bit of what we used to have in our original church, in our new church," Montalvan said.

Rededication

Bishop Peter Christensen from the Diocese of Boise will be in Mud Lake Saturday, February 15, to consecrate the church and the altar.

The consecration service will be available to watch on Facebook. For more info, click HERE.

"The faith of all has continued to be strong since the fire, and we want to share that with everyone," said Montalvan. "We will rise from the ashes!"

Local News 8 has included the complete informational release in Spanish below.

La comunidad católica de Mud Lake está muy emocionada de organizar una jornada de puertas abiertas para que todos la visiten. Hemos contado con el apoyo de varias comunidades en todo Idaho que ayudaron, donaron y oraron. Queremos darles la oportunidad de venir y ver lo que han hecho. El obispo Peter Christensen de la Diócesis de Boise estará en Mud Lake el día anterior para consagrar la iglesia y el altar, lo que hará que este fin de semana sea muy especial. El servicio de consagración estará disponible para verlo en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ifcatholics.net
La fe de todos ha seguido siendo fuerte desde el incendio y queremos compartirla con todos. La jornada de puertas abiertas comenzará justo después de la misa de las 9:30 AM y continuará hasta las 3:30 PM el domingo 16 de febrero. Se ofrecerá café y galletas. 

- Gisselle Montalvan Lopez, Holy Rosary Catholic School