Monday Marks Three Years Since Hostyn Church Fire

Monday May 9 marks the three-year anniversary of the fire that destroyed Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Hostyn. The fire was sparked by a gas leak and killed church member Verlene Kuntschik, who arrived early for a weekday service that morning. At this weekend’s masses, the church prayed for Kuntschik and it was also announced that the rebuild of a new $11.5 million church may begin in late summer or early fall this year. The beginning of construction has hit a snag as the parish tries to narrow the gap between what the new church will cost and the insurance money+donations they have. Above left is the fire on June 9, 2022 and the empty church lot as it looks now three years after the fire.