Roof Trusses on New
Catholic Church Collapse
By Martha Slater

The roof trusses of the new Sts. Donatian & Rogatian Catholic Church in Randolph lie in a splintered pile while the cause of the collapse is investivgated. (Herald / Tim Calabro)

On Sunday, Aug. 5 between 10-11 a.m., the majority of the huge wooden roof trusses that topped the sanctuary section of the new home of the Sts. Donatian & Rogatian Catholic Church collapsed. The reason for the collapse, which also caused the wall facing Route 66 to bow outward, has yet to be determined.

Father John Milanese, who had seen nothing wrong there when he visited it at 8 a.m., got the news about the collapse from a member of the Green Mountain Gospel Chapel, which is located just across the driveway from the building site on Route 66 in Randolph.

Obviously tired from a stressful couple of days, Father John was inclined to be philosophical. He spoke with The Herald around noon on Tuesday, after spending the morning meeting with officials representing the builder, Negley & Chase, of South Burlington, and the diocesan insurance adjuster, Peter Wells.

"It must have made a tremendous noise, as all the trusses are splintered," he said. "The good thing is that no one was hurt, and it took place in broad daylight, so we know it wasn’t vandalism. It also happened on a Sunday, so no one was there. If it had been the next day, someone on the work crew could have been severely injured or killed. We’re grateful that if it had to happen, it happened the way it did."

The accident will set back the building project at least six weeks, Father John said. The church did have builder’s risk insurance, so the estimated $50,000 cost of replacing the trusses (new ones have already been ordered) will be covered.

"You know, you have to see the good in things," Father John concluded. "This may be a blessing in disguise. Our original date to be in the church was Christmas, and it would have been very hard for everyone in the parish to help with moving right before the holiday. Now, we have more time."

He said the insurance company will have an independent construction engineer evaluate the damage to determine the cause of the collapse. Work on the damaged section of the church will resume as soon as possible.

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