SALEM, Ore. — The congregation of Salem's St. Joseph's Catholic Church is slowly moving forward, one year after the building was destroyed by fire.
On Monday, 49-year-old Billy Sweeten was sentenced to 38 months, or a little over three years, in prison for first-degree arson, along with 36 months of post-prison supervision. In Aug. 2023, Sweeten lit recycling bins on fire. The flames spread through the church, extensively damaging the roof.
“I wouldn’t say there’s closure because we're still doing construction," said Fr. Jeff Meeuwsen. "I think the day we reconsecrate the building, that will be closure."
For nearly the last year, Meeuwsen has led his congregation from a gymnasium on the property.
"If we have bread and wine, we can celebrate Mass," he said. “For [parishioners] this is home, this is holy, whether you’re inside the church or outside the church."
Slowly, the roof of the over 70-year-old church is being rebuilt. The stained-glass windows and the organ were removed; they're being cleaned up and will be reinstalled. The church lost a fresco painting, and much of the concrete walls had to be sandblasted to repair the smoke damage.
PHOTOS: After arson, Salem church slowly rebuilds
“When I was watching them put the roof back together, I was like, 'OK, I am encouraged; this is working,'" Meeuwsen said.
During a Wednesday afternoon Mass, people filled the gym. Many prayed and went forward to take Communion. Meeuwsen addressed the group and Sweeten's sentencing.
"So, if there is some anger in your heart, ask the Lord to heal that," he said to the church. "We'll move forward with the mission of Jesus Christ."
He also said the price tag to rebuild is just over $17 million. Several other buildings on the property were damaged as a result of the fire, mostly from water.
But the church never missed Mass — celebrated in English, Spanish and Vietnamese — or confessional, and students still went to school in the building next door.
As construction crawls along, Meeuwsen is grateful for all the people who have prayed for and supported his congregation. He'll continue to lead the church from the gym because he knows the church is not a building — it is the people.
"You see the joy when they’re together," the priest said. “They are together. They have not fallen apart; they are being built up."