The Building Committee

• Michelle Ashman: 419-852-0784
• Eric Eyink: 419-305-9129
• Beck Fullenkamp: 567-644-2581
• Gary Hartings: 419-953-0728
• Dave Heckman: 419-953-2412
• Todd Heitkamp: 419-953-1868
• Beth Otte: 419-302-4724
• Maria Rethman: 567-644-6442
• Kent Shaner: 419-733-4403
• Jean Thobe: 419-305-6808
• Mitch Thobe: 419-305-9951
• Lynn Wolters: 419-305-9849

Share your vision for our new church by submitting your ideas on the Building Our Future Together google form.

 

​How is the insurance claim being handled for St. John the Baptist Church fire?
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati is self-insured and employs Gallagher Bassett as their Third Party Administrator to manage most insurance claims.  For catastrophic losses exceeding $500,000, the Archdiocese has excess insurance coverage in the commercial market, with Sedgwick serving as the claims administrator for these complex, high-value claims.  
Insurance payouts are categorized into distinct areas.  The first category covers mitigation costs, which include all the work done on St. John Church to date, i.e. fencing and securing the site, removing the bells and large debris with cranes, and crews to clean the debris out of church.  These mitigation expenses are separate from and do not reduce the funds available for repairing or rebuilding the church.  There is a category to repair or rebuild the church and a separate category for church contents.  There are additional categories for the rectory repair and rectory contents. 

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati and FIRST ONSITE had given initial approval to offer opportunities for parishioners and others to walk through St. John the Baptist Church.  Fr. Ken had mentioned this at several of the Marion Community Masses this past weekend.  Unfortunately, after further review and consultation regarding the potential hazards and risks, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and FIRST ONSITE have deemed the church structure presents too many insurance risks and is not safe to accommodate groups of parishioners and others walking through St. John Church. We are sorry that we are not able to offer this walk through opportunity. We will work on a video of the inside of the church to post on the St. John the Baptist Church Fire and Recovery website page.

​​FIRST ONSITE crews began retrieving sacred items and removing large debris the day after the fire.  Crews began sifting through and removing smaller debris June 23rd with the last of the fire debris removed on  August 11th.  Over 200 tons of debris was removed from the church along with scrap metal that has been recycled.   Crews were not able to remove debris from the NW sacristy due to unsafe door headers and walls nor from the bell tower platform and above that was heavily damaged.  

​While heavy storms and rain moved the Prayer Service inside, the Knights Hall was filled with warmth and dry, except for tears of both sorrow and gratitude shed for our beloved St. John the Baptist Church and those who came to our aide. Over 300 parishioners and guests, joined the St. John’s Choir giving praise and thanks to God in song, listening to the Word of God and reflections, blessing the firemen and first responders and offering prayers for all those who serve and protect us, especially those who came to our aid on May 29th. 

​Today we celebrate a famous trio, not Peter, Paul and Mary but the Feasts of Sts. Peter and Paul this weekend and the Nativity of St. John last week.  We also have updates about the St. John Church fire.    

​The St. John the Baptist Church presider’s chair has been retrieved. The symbolism of the priest’s chair is derived from the bishop’s chair found in every cathedral. In fact, the word “cathedral” comes from a word that means “chair.” ​