PARAPARAUMU Parishioners are devastated after St Patricks Church in Papaparaumu was hit by a suspected arson attack on March 23. Curtains near the altar were set on fire and carpets were also damaged. The repair and clean-up bill will come to an estimated $20,000.
Parish priest Fr Michael McCabe called the damage very distressing and said it follows other minor events that havent been respectful of the church during the past 12 months.
Its just indicative of the world we live in today, Fr McCabe told NZ Catholic.
The church was security-monitored and smoke alarms alerted a security firm, which attended and put out the fire.
They arrived just in the nick of time, as the woodwork was about to catch alight and smoke had filled the church.
Fire officers subsequently dampened down hot spots and ventilated the building.
The church had been open when the fire started, but it was only unattended for half an hour from 11.40am, Fr McCabe said.
Parishioners are greatly shocked and distressed by the damage to their church, which was built in the early 1970s.
The building was insured and the damaged curtains, which stretched from the ceiling to the floor, have been replaced.
Two other suspicious fires were discovered at the Coastlands Shopping Centre on the Kapiti Coast the previous day.
