Community picking up the pieces after fire at East Williamsburg church during Easter

For many in the area, Our Lady of Pompeii is more than just a church - it's a family and a center for the community.

Julia Joseph and Adolfo Carrion

Apr 1, 2024, 10:42 PM

Updated 44 days ago

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Members of the East Williamsburg community are working together to mend the neighborhood after a five-alarm fire made its way through Our Lady of Pompeii church on Easter Sunday.
For many in the area, Our Lady of Pompeii is more than just a church - it's a family and a center for the community.
"It's like my second home because I always go there, all the special moments we have in our life is in that church, confirmation, communion, my daughters wedding was there," said Lucy Plaza, parishioner at the church. "All of those activities that we do as a community, we do it in the church."
Residents say their concerns go beyond the physical damage to the church, and parishioners say that while the community may be distraught, they're not worried.
"You see that there's a structure of the church, but nothing happened to the church inside. You know? Something had to be with us at that time," said Plaza.
Local churches have already reached out to offer members of Our Lady of Pompeii a place to practice worship safely while the church undergoes repairs.


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