First Nation community grieves loss of church after fire

After a fire burned a church in the Meadow Lake area to the ground, the community is trying to come to terms with the loss.

Father Doug Jeffrey pastors three churches in the area, including Our Lady of the Smile in Waterhen Lake.

“People got married there, they baptized their children there, they made their first communion there, they celebrated reconciliation, confirmation. Many people were buried there,” he shared.

“It has a strong place in people’s lives.”

He recalled getting a text message at around 7:30 a.m. Thursday, telling him the church was nearly consumed with flames. Jeffrey said he doesn’t have many details, but believes the fire was intentionally set.

RCMP have reported the fire to be “suspicious in nature” and are asking for anyone with information to come forward.

The first people to arrive at the church early Thursday morning reported seeing fires at the front and back doors and some windows were broken.

“It doesn’t appear to be an accident,” Jeffrey said.

He said the days since have been emotional.

“At first it was shock,” he said, “I pray with the people here … I know them and we’ve had so many good celebrations there.”

Many of the people in the community feel the same way — sadness, frustration.

Our Lady of the Smile Parish was built in the early 1950s and has around seven decades of memories, Jeffrey said. It’s the pastor’s third year serving there.

“I’m feeling sad … trying to answer the question, ‘Why would someone do this?'”

Their community has had one gathering since the fire, during which they prayed for anyone who might have been behind the blaze.

“Obviously someone who does something like this is hurting really bad,” Jeffrey said.

However, the pastor is trying not to speculate and encouraging others to do the same.

The community is planning to gather again at someone’s home near the church on July 3. Jeffrey expects it will be an emotional night of sharing and processing grief.

“We’ll talk about where do we go from here,” although he doesn’t expect much progress on the community’s next steps just yet.

He said the church is owned by the Waterhen Cree Nation Band and it will be up to the Chief and Council to decide ultimately what is done with the property. Amidst their grief, Jeffrey offered a message to whoever might have been involved in the fire.

“I would just say come forward and take responsibility for your actions and let’s help one another,” he said.

“We’re praying for you.”