At 4:10 a.m. Sept. 2, the neighborhood surrounding St. Helena in south Minneapolis was rocked by an explosion. Lightning struck the church and blew the 3-foot concrete cross off the roof. It split into two larger pieces and landed at the base of the church, with debris scattered on the church lawn and sidewalk.
Parish business manager Mike Petruconis said he was “shell shocked” when he arrived at 7 a.m. to survey the damage. He noted that no one was hurt and that Mass was celebrated on schedule that morning at 8.
The parish has hired Advance Companies, Inc. to fabricate and install a new cross. Petruconis said it will take six to eight weeks to complete the job. He noted that there is no damage inside the church and that there will be no change in the Mass schedule.
