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Friday, March 5, 2010

Fire at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church

A two-alarm fire broke out this morning at the St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church on the corner of W. Fordham Rd. and Andrews Ave. The fire started sometime between 11:30 and 11:40am. The Fire Department responded quickly, and fire fighters arrived at the church around 11:45.
A total of 60 fire fighters were on hand.

Fire Department officials call the fire, which started in the vestibule of the church, "very suspicious," adding that someone may have set the fire on purpose or by accident. The fire never got to the main sanctuary, and is, as of now, under control. No word yet as to the extent of damages inside the church.

A few members of the congregation were praying inside St. Nicholas of Tolentine when the fire broke out, but were quickly rushed outside via side exit. No one was hurt. The blaze sent thick, black smoke billowing out the front entrance of the church.

Church members are thankful the fire was not worse, and are hopeful to hold mass at St. Nicholas of Tolentine on Sunday.

13 comments:

  1. This makes me so sad!This was my Parish as a young boy. I made my Communion and Confirmation
    there.My brother and sister were married in St. Nicholas. There friends and familyes.What to do!

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  2. I grew up going to that church. Been going there since I was 6 yrs old. Did my First Communion, Confirmation there. Twin sister even got married there. I am at a loss for words...and just want to cry at the level of cruelty in our world. I pray for all - even those that need forgiveness. :(

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  3. My children went to school there and were babtize there, when I saw those flames I cried, but thank GOD no one was hurt!

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  4. I use to go to this church... loved it so much. I did everything here, but it was all a blur since i moved away, looking back, hearing this story i felt so sad...praying for everyone that ever grew up going to this church. May god help this church rise again.

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  5. Went to school here and received all sacraments here! Let's not let this bring us down! We need to do something to help rebuild. This church gave us all something so much more than memories. Pray for the person who did this!

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  6. so sad that someone would do this... beautiful Church my cousin was married there.I remember going ther as a child visiting my aunt uncle and cousins. my cousins went to school there

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  7. my parents worked very hard to put their 6 children to grammar and high school at Tolentine.I was married in that beautiful Cathedral of the Bronx. It was sad enough when they closed the High School.My heart broke hearing about the fire. God Bless the Parish.

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  8. A very beautiful church, on the corner of Fordham & University in da Bronx. I spent many years passing by this church while riding on Ladder 33 FDNY. One of the best firehouses in the city.
    The Brothers made a great stop and held it with hopefully not to much damage.

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  9. How terrible. This is such a beautiful church. I belonged to it til I moved to Texas. Went back to visit in '83 and was still so impressed with its beauty.My parents were married in the downstairs church in 1940.The churches in Texas have been having many suspicious fires the past couple of years. I wish St. Nicholas of Tolentine all the best. I have many fond memories of this church and my neighborhood.

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  10. Let's keep praying that the world we live in today get a better understanding of life and God. I could only hope that this was an accident and that anyone had bad intentions against such a beauiful community and church. Made God bless all.

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  11. I was very sad to hear about this fire. I made my First Holy Communion at this church. I also attended the school for a few years before my family moved to Queens. I hope they find the sick person or persons who would do something so ugly to a church.
    What is this world coming to?

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  12. I WAS VERY SAD TO HEAR ABOUT THE FIRE, I WAS BAPTIZED THER AND ALL THE REST TO FOLLOW, MY SELF AND MY TWO BROTHERS ALL WENT THROUGH SCHOOL THERE AND LOVED EVERY MINUTE IN THE FORDHAM AREA,I GO NO WHERE THAT SOME-ONE IS NOT TALKING ABOUT TOLENTINE, LOVED ALL MY SCHOOL DAYS, MY BROTHERS HAVE PAST ON BUT ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT THE GOOD OLD DAYS THERE. MY PRAYES ARE THAT ALL GOES WELL WITH THE PARISH AND PEOPLE STOP BEING MEAN .

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  13. This church and parish is one of the finest in New York City. Hearing of this recently it makes me sick someone would do damage to a home of prayer and of hope.

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