On Sunday morning, April 16th,
about 4:45 a.m a terrifying crash resounded throughout Sacred Heart
Church, Bushwood, Maryland. The sexton, within about 100 yards of the
church at that time was all but stunned by the crash and blinded by
the flash as a bolt of lightning struck the steeple. Recovering, he
hastened to the Pastor's quarters at the rear of the church. Both he
and the pastor repaired to the church proper but found no trace of
smoke or fire. In half an hour Mr. Burch Gibson, the nearest neighbor
ran from his home to tell Fr. Rudtke that sparks and light were coming
from the roof of the church near the steeple. The church phone being
by then out of order Fr, Rudtke drove to the home of Mr. Fred
McWilliams, whose phone was on another circuit and called the
Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Dept. By that time a small hole had burned
through the church roof.
Returning to the church Fr.
Rudtke immediately removed the Blessed Sacrament to the school
nearby. With the help of the sexton, Messrs. Harry Green, Burch and
Larry Gibson, Paul, Ralph and Ethelbert Russell and Alfred Dyson they
packed the Sacred vessels, vestments, alter boys' cassocks and carried
them, together with candle-sticks and altar appurtenances, Papal and
National flags, liturgical documents and books, a few of the pastor's
personal effects and wearing apparel, to the school. By this time
smoke and heat prevented further salvaging.
By the time the L.V.F.D. had
the hose lines out the school building was steaming from the intense
heat. The fire-fighters rightly fave all time and effort to the
school and the nearby gasoline tanks, preventing explosion and further
loss.
At 7 o'clock the venerable
and stately church, a land mark for 52 years was a total loss of not
less than $40,000.00.
Seeing that the school was
safe, Fr. Rudtke, with the help of the Sister who brought an altar
stone and alter clothes from the convent nearby, set up an emergency
altar and in the Parish Hall held the usual Sunday masses at 7:30 and
9 o'clock.
