Somers church to hold Christmas Eve mass for first time since fire

SOMERS, CT (WFSB) -

Nearly two years after a devastating fire destroyed a Somers church, parishioners are coming back just in time for Christmas.

The Somers Congregational Church will hold its first services in the new church on Christmas Eve.

"It's the culmination of a lot of hard work by a lot of people, kind of a dream," said Rev. Dr. Barry Cass of Somers Congregational Church. "We knew it was coming, but hard to believe its actually happening."

The church, located on Main Street, burned to the ground on New Year's Day 2012.

Volunteers spent Friday morning lining up chairs and even wheeling in a bible and pulpit for the pastor.

The main sanctuary is still under construction, but Cass said they just got a certificate for partial occupancy, allowing them to hold services.

Church officials said they're expecting large crowds at its three Christmas Eve services.

"In the beginning you have a lot of enthusiasm and it keeps going. Then it goes on. It's like wow it's 12 months. It's 15 months It's 20 months," said Senior Deacon Joann Hornyak. "It gets to be a little tiring, so we keep trying to rejuvenate each other. I think that's what's kept this church going."

The upstairs worship space where they will eventually hold their services every Sunday is still off limits. Cass said they're actually finishing up on the ceiling right now.

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Somers church to hold Christmas Eve mass for first time since fire