
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, December 28, 1993                   TAG: 9312280124
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: CHICAGO                                LENGTH: Short

CHURCH ESCAPED FIRE, NOW WRECKING BALL, TOO

A church that narrowly survived the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 celebrated another escape - from the wrecking ball - after donors contributed $2.7 million to renovate it.

The first Mass in nine years was celebrated Sunday at Holy Family Church. The 1,200-seat sanctuary was filled to capacity.

In 1984, a leaky roof and falling plaster forced the sanctuary to close. Services were held in an adjacent building.

Fund-raising efforts began in 1988, but in 1990, the Society of Jesus, which owns the structure, said it would replace the church with a smaller one unless $1 million was available for restoration by year's end.

Nightly prayer vigils on the building's steps and an open house got so much attention and money - talk show host Oprah Winfrey gave $50,000 - that the parish made its Jan. 1, 1991, goal with $11,000 to spare, Lane said.

Founded in 1857, Holy Family is one of five public buildings that survived the 1871 fire. Legend says the blaze began when a cow kicked over a lantern in a barn five blocks from the church. - Associated Press

by CNB