Just over two years ago, in the early morning hours of May 5, 2021, the St. Kateri Tekakwitha Mission Catholic Church on the Bay Mills Reservation caught fire.
Despite efforts by firefighters to save the church, the flames were too much. It was a complete loss. The cause of the fire was undetermined.
Fast forward just over two years later.
On Wednesday, June 14, Rev. Timothy Ekaitis and Rev. Dominic Afrifa held a small prayer service in front of several members of their congregation before breaking ground for the new church.
It will be built on the same site as the previous church at 12014 Lakeshore Drive.
Rev. Afrifa was ecstatic that the church would finally be rebuilt.
"This particular day is going to be a wonderful day. It's going to be a part of history in the community. It's for the whole community because the church is the community and the community is the church. Everybody in this town sees him or her as a member of this church even though you may not see all of them in the church at the same time," Rev. Afrifa said.
Around 45 families attend St. Kateri Tekakwitha Mission Catholic Church.
Arbic Construction is building the new church which is expected to be open for services early next year.
