How to help

EDITOR’S NOTE: Bishop Reddall wrote the following on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. Since then, a suspect has been arrested and charged with arson. A liturgy will be held at 11:30am this Sunday, May 28, at St John’s in Bisbee, and Fr Robert encourages anyone who feels called to attend.

By The Rt Rev’d Jennifer A. Reddall, sixth bishop of Arizona

Dear Friends in Christ,

I write to share news of a devastating fire that took place on Monday, May 22, 2023 at St. Stephen’s, Douglas. I ask your prayers for the congregation and their Vicar, The Rev’d John Caleb Collins, who are reeling from the loss.

The fire has completely destroyed the sanctuary and a church house next door and seriously damaged the church office. It appears that the parish hall is still standing and relatively undamaged, but we are not able to access any of the buildings, due to the ongoing investigation. 

We do not yet know the cause of the fire. Police, Fire, and ATF investigators were on the scene last night. A fire began at about the same time at First Presbyterian Church, which is next door to St. Stephen’s; that church has also been gutted and destroyed.

St. Stephen’s is a small but faithful bilingual Mission of our Diocese, founded in 1901. They have a particular charism for ministry with migrants and asylum seekers; and give assistance to all who come to the door and knock. 

Last night at 7:00pm, Father Collins, Liz Hansen (Director of Finance and Property), and I joined members of both congregations, as well as residents of Douglas as we gathered for a bilingual prayer service across the street from the church buildings. We shared our sure and certain hope that while church buildings can be gutted by fire, the true church, the church of the people of God, cannot be burned down. But that reality does not take away the deep grief and loss of a space made sacred by generations of baptisms, eucharists, quinceañeras, weddings, and burials.

A number of people have asked me how they can contribute to assist the congregation in their time of need. If you would like to make a financial donation to the ministry of St. Stephen’s, you can do so at the diocesan website here.

I will be joining the congregation for worship this Sunday, Pentecost, at 11:30am at St. John’s, Bisbee. I invite those who are able to join me in person to support the people of St. Stephen’s.

Again: please keep the folks at St. Stephen’s in your prayers.

Faithfully,

+Jennifer

You can also send a personal check to our diocesan offices at 114 W. Roosevelt Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003. Make sure to write “St. Stephen's Douglas” in the memo line of your check.