The image of Notre Dame cathedral being reconstructed after the April fire. (Image via: New York Post)

Notre Dame Holds First Mass after Fire

PARIS - The mass will commemorate 2 months of fire that devastated the church. On 15 April 2019 exactly 2 months ago, a fire was set ablaze and burned Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. The cathedral was 850 years old.

Until now, the cause of fire is still unclear. President of France, Emmanuel Macron, described the incident as the horrible tragedy in the France history. 

In addition, some firefighters who tried to extinguish the fire were badly injured. They did not only extinguish the fire, but also they tried to save the historical artifacts and paintings in the church.

Due to the fire, the tall spire – identical feature of cathedral – and the roof collapsed. Fortunately, the damage did not occur to the main structure of the building.

Today (15/6) at 6.00 P.M local time, French Catholics are going to hold their first mass since the fire. The mass is set to be aired live on KTO, French Catholic TV, led by Archbishop of Bishop, Michel Aupetit. Due to the reconstruction of the Cathedral, the mass is held in simplicity, only 30 people – half of them are clerics – are attending the mass.

On Sunday (16/6), the Notre Dame cathedral also consecrates its altar, which is an annual ordinance for the congregation of the church.

Currently, there are nearly 150 workers working at the ruins to remove the debris and to assist the reconstruction.

President Macron vowed to accelerate the reconstruction of Notre Dame cathedral. He set target for the reconstruction to be finished by 5 years from 2019. French diocese is waiting for permission from French authority to hold evening prayer at an esplanade established just outside the cathedral.

Source: https://www.afp.com/en/news/3954/pariss-notre-dame-celebrate-first-mass-after-fire-doc-1hi2kg1