Ravaged by flames at the beginning of September, the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Saint-Omer (Pas-de-Calais) brings together small and large donors who hope to see the church quickly rise from its ashes.
It was a tragedy that affected beyond Pas-de-Calais. On September 2, 2024, an arson attack ravaged the Immaculée-Conception church in Saint-Omer, leading to the collapse of its bell tower and its roof, but also the destruction of its 19th century Merklin organ. Deeply shocked by the loss of their church, which had already reopened its doors in 2018 after years of restoration, the inhabitants of Saint-Omer said they were dejected but not defeated.
But after the excitement, the anger and the sadness, a plan for reconstruction work is taking shape, barely two months after the tragedy thanks to the generosity of many donors. Among them, the Dassault foundation which signed a check for one million euros on November 15 for the restoration of the building. An exceptional donation which joins not only the 141,187 euros in donations collected by the Heritage Foundation from 1,200 individuals but also those directly transmitted by the faithful of the parish, the inhabitants of the region or even people affected by this tragedy. Some donations even come from the United States.
Work planned from the start of 2025
A surge of solidarity which gives hope for the next reconstruction of the church. Although the costing of the work has not yet been established, the first sums collected should make it possible, from the start of 2025, to begin the renovation. “In the immediate future, the church will be covered with a giant umbrella to protect it from bad weather,” Father Sébastien Roussel, parish priest, told Aleteia. The mayor, for her part, hopes to be able to benefit from aid from the State, the Region or the Department.
In the meantime, efforts to find the church continue. On a local level, the reconstruction of the church unites as on the first day, from small to large. Thus, during Advent, the Marcq Institution college, in Marcq-en-Barœul, a few kilometers from Saint-Omer, will organize a cake sale to help the parish buy liturgical service objects such as the chalice, the ciborium or even the chasubles. One of the Benedictine sisters from Notre-Dame de Wisques Abbey will draw cards featuring the main stained glass window of the church representing the Immaculate Conception. Cards will be sold for the benefit of the parish and for Epiphany, a bean will be made with the image of the church.
For his part, Father Sébastien Roussel says he is touched by all the donations, whether small or large: “It is not the amount that matters but the generosity with which the donation is made”. The faithful of the parish currently live together with those of the Notre-Dame des miracles basilica. “We were well received and integrated into the parish and its many teams,” rejoices one of the faithful, who nevertheless hopes to quickly return to her church. A beautiful spirit of community around the body of Christ which manifests itself in a moment of trial.
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