Historic Church In Hostyn Consumed By Fire
News update: According to KTIM - FM 89.1 Radio (La Grange), the elderly lady that was injured in the explosion and fire at the Queen of the Holy Rosary Church in Hostyn has passed away. We send our condolences to her family and friends.
A Catholic church south of La Grange was deemed a total loss after it was consumed by fire following an explosion Thursday (June 9) morning.
According to Fayette County authorities, a woman was in the process of lighting a candle at the Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Hostyn when the explosion happened. It is believed that the candle may have ignited a natural gas leak.
Fayette County Office of Emergency Management Chief Craig Moreau said the woman was injured and transported to Dell-Seton Hospital in Austin where she is being treated for burns. Her condition was unknown at the time of this report. Fayette County Sheriff Keith Korenek is encouraging the public to keep the elderly victim in their prayers.
Law enforcement closed FM 2436 as fire departments from Schulenburg, Fayettville, Muldoon, and La Grange responded to the fire. The incident caused some power and gas outages in the surrounding area. According to authorities, the fire will be investigated to be certain that the explosion was not caused by criminal activity.
The church has a long history of service to the Hostyn Community
According to the Queen of the Holy Rosary – Hostyn website, the first church was built in 1869 – it was a wood-frame structure. Afterward, there was a second church erected in 1888 and served the congregation until 1907 - it burned that year. A third church was also built but the website didn’t indicate what happened to it. The church that burned Thursday was dedicated by Cardinal P. Beran in 1966.