From the Desk of Fr. Thomas - February 2026 Newsletter
- Pompeii Rising
- Mar 2
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 5
Dear Friends of Our Lady of Pompeii,
In Lent, we break ourselves down to see what is on the inside. With a certain amount of introspection, rotten bits are purged to ensure we adhere to a solid foundation. This is precisely what is happening in terms of site restoration. The stunning vaulted ceilings are one of the defining features of the church. We knew there was termite and water damage in other parts of the building, but how extensive was any hidden damage directly above our heads? We finally know!
Forty feet in the air, our contractor found some concerns when opening up different inspection points for representative samples. The attic space was entirely inaccessible when we purchased the building. There was no way to say with confidence the ceiling and rafters would be good for another century, or a decade, or even a year. When faced with the unknown, we simply make the same decision we choose in Lent: cast off the facade and face the good, the bad, and the ugly.
While it was painful to see the ceiling removed, you'll recall new technology captured every curve, and all will be meticulously recreated once we make our repairs. I'm so glad we made this decision. "The condition was better than we expected" said our architect, Jeff Lane, "but there is still a lot of damage to repair." Our contractors are taking advantage of this once in a lifetime chance to shore up the truss above the altar, brace the rafters to the ridge beam, and reinforce the tie-ins, giving new life to the entire structure.
L: This is not a photograph, rather millions of dots mapping out the vaulted ceiling.
R: We have a precise 3D Multivista model that can recreate the ceiling down to the millimeter.
While the rafters are exposed, we will also install a catwalk that runs the entire length of the church so that future generations can inspect and maintain both the roof and ceiling. Going forward, we can find leaks or wood destroying organisms before they become a problem. Our master plan is to adorn the ceiling with beautiful murals and this crucial step will ensure that no one will ever have to tear down this work of art again.
L: A view from the rafters, above the altar, looking West, 50 feet in the air.
R: Above the choir loft, we see the future path of the catwalk, for annual inspections.
Lastly, I know I ask for prayers all the time, but as mentioned from the pulpit, I have a special intention for you today. Please unite this request to your Lenten observances, especially in the month of St. Joseph. As you know, we will have precious little room to park and space to meet for things like children’s catechism. There is a property very close to Our Lady of Pompeii that has additional parking and over 3,000 sq ft of office space. It is currently not on the market, but as the chapel coordinator, Alex Allaire said in our recent interview on the SSPX’s Sacred Restorations series “Just because it's not for sale doesn’t mean we can’t buy it.” If Our Lady wants it, she will make the arrangements. If it is not the will of her Divine Son, she will let us know.
We could all use less screen time during this holy season of Lent, so I’ll keep this month’s newsletter short and end with a few pictures and captions to show the hard work of our dedicated team.
Keep saying your Memorares,
Fr. Thomas
At the time of this newsletter, the video has been seen over 6,000 times. New friends of Our Lady of Pompeii, who’ve found our project through this series, have donated $2,750. We’re so thankful for donations from every part of the country.
Sacred Restorations, Ep 01. Pompeii Rising, where I was interviewed by Andrew Latham, my old High School friend.
This month’s mailbag comes to us from parishioner Chereyl D. whose family has been a big part of Jacksonville’s Catholic community for decades. When hearing from the Sacred Restorations series that both Western and Eastern liturgies were celebrated at Old Holy Rosary, she looked through some old family photos and sent me a picture of her grandfather, Johnny Mussallem, who had the pleasure of hosting His Beatitude, Ignatius Antoun Hayek, Patriarch of Antioch.
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