Montreal’s St Paul’s Catholic church goes up in flames, forcing evacuation of 148 seniors

Source: Wikimedia Commons

A fire completely gutted the historic St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Montreal’s Sud-Ouest borough early Monday morning, leaving the local community stunned.

The blaze, which began around 1:40 a.m., quickly spread to the church’s old rectory, recently converted into a seniors’ residence.

Authorities evacuated 148 people, including 73 seniors. No injuries were reported.

The fire also destroyed a local food bank that had operated out of the church since 2013, serving roughly 200 families each week.

Director Roger Mpemudjir Kilanga said all equipment, including newly purchased commercial refrigerators, was likely lost, forcing him to search for a new location to continue operations.

Borough mayor Véronique Fournier pledged support in finding short-term solutions to maintain food services for the community.

“This building is located in the historic heart of Côte-St-Paul and holds special significance for many of us: members of our community have been married there and have celebrated important life events,” Fournier wrote in a post on social media.

Built between 1910 and 1911 by architect Joseph-Arthur Godin, Saint-Paul Church is part of the heritage site Côte-Saint-Paul, recognized for its architectural and historical significance. Although the church had been vacant for years, it remained a meaningful landmark for many local residents.

Fire investigators are still on site as authorities work to determine the cause of the blaze.

The loss of Saint-Paul comes amid a troubling national trend highlighted by Juno News’ exclusive arson map: over 120 Christian churches across Canada have been vandalized, burned, or desecrated in recent years.

The wave of attacks, which escalated after the legacy media spread unsubstantiated claims of unmarked graves at a residential school in Kamloops, B.C., has yet to prompt a national inquiry.

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