Fire Destroys Convent: Elderly Nuns Pray for Urgent Help

August, 2003 -- The 92 year-old convent structure was home to 7 elderly nuns from former soviet-bloc nations as well as 3 Eastern Orthodox nuns and 2 Anglican nuns all ranging from 81 to 90 years of age. The convent building had recently completed a $4.6 million renovation. A new electronic pipe organ, and priceless church artifacts were destroyed. The living quarters and work areas were not spared major damage, nor was the historic stained glass that had been rescued from a closed church.

"The light through them was like a glimpse of heaven," said Sr. M. Eugenia. She said the main concern was that everyone who had been in the building was safe. Some 15 people, nuns and volunteers, were in the complex.

One volunteer, bloodied her hand smashing a glass panel to open a locked steel door, which was them wrenched open from the outside by a stranger. She told the nuns: "It was like a superhuman effort. I had never seen him before and have not seen him since." The volunteers could not have used the smoke-filled main work area, but the open door allowed everyone to exit safely. Some 55 fire volunteers were able to control the blaze in about 20 minutes, temperatures in some areas reached 1,200 degrees.

Sr. Ambrosine said the fire spread from the chapel sacristy down the length of the nave and throughout the remainder of the building. "It had very old dense wood," she said. "It is all black and so much destroyed, but with some of the wood so dense, some may be able to be used again. They were all original beams."

"There is no way to measure the tremendous loss in our hearts and minds... the work of all of us elderly Sisters is such a presence and need to the former communist and other areas that we help." But the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Society's Convent will hopefully rise out of the ashes," she said, "like the Phoenix, which was depicted in one of our windows, that is always born out of ashes."

A convent volunteer stated that certain things would operate out of her home a few miles away until help comes to rebuild what has been lost. "We are family," she said. "If we can't try to do something, we'll find someone who can."

The displaced nuns have been provided with shelter at the homes of supporters of their work until funds can be raised to rebuild. Some of the furnishings and sacred vessels sent to mission areas had been recovered from the wreckage, and "cleaned, polished and prepared with loving hands," And Sr. Ambrosine reminded everone that "even in our worst moments, there is opportunity for blessing and prayers for the urgent help we will now need."

In cooperation with volunteers of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Society, St. Mary's Guild has established a fund to rebuild the convent. "All Christians and all people of good will are welcome to lend their financial aid to help us to rebuild," Sr. Eugenia said. Contributions which are tax-deductible should be sent to: St. Mary's Guild, P.O. Box 785, Wyandotte, MI 48192-0785 and should be marked: "Convent Rebuilding Fund."

Beside their mission work, the elderly nuns were also involved in assisting the poor and elderly without regard to their religious affiliation by providing food, clothing, and assisting with medical and prescription needs.

There is hope to resume this work in the future, "We too are all old, and have survived very difficult lives, but these of the poor and old no one should ignore," Sr. Ambrosine stated.



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