WESTPHALIA, TX — On Sunday morning, the Westphalia community had its first mass after a fire burned the Westphalia Church of the Visitation to the ground.
"It was like our lives fell apart because it's such a real part of the community and no matter where you would go, you would see the towers," said Westphalia community member Renae Willberg.
The community will continue to hold mass at the Westphalia Parish Hall on Sundays at 9 a.m. until a new church can be rebuilt.
Father Edwin says this can only make the community stronger,
Any building is not going to be there forever, but the community and their faith is... and it's binding us together. So yes it's a tragedy. But know that one day, it was going to go and God has given, taken, and will give back again something stronger.
Click here to donate to the fund online. The building was insured, but donations to the fund will be used for the immediate needs of the parish, as well as on-going expenses that the parish will encounter as it rebuilds.
Checks can be sent to the diocese at Church of the Visitation Fund, Diocese of Austin, 6225 E US 290 HWY SVRD EB, Austin, TX 78723. Please make checks payable to the Diocese of Austin with “Church of the Visitation” in the memo line.
