Apucarana chapel faces demolition after severe storm damage

The Catholic community of Parque Bela Vista in Apucarana held a farewell mass on Sunday for the Nossa Senhora do Rocio Chapel, which was severely damaged by a storm on September 21. Due to the structural instability, the celebration led by Bishop Dom Carlos José de Oliveira had to be held in a safe area at the temple entrance.

Parish priest Edivaldo Ferreira dos Reis reported that approximately 600 square meters of the church structure require demolition for safety reasons. The storm caused half of the roof to collapse and severely compromised the side walls after the steel support cables were pushed inward. While the front tower and rear areas remained largely unaffected, the building is strictly prohibited from use.

Regular masses have been temporarily moved to the São Francisco Xavier Parish. Church leadership has scheduled technical evaluations with engineers to determine the feasibility of reconstruction.