San Juan Bautista
– Weeks after the main building of San Juan Bautista’s historic
St. Francis Retreat was destroyed by fire, staff at the well-known
facility are moving forward and continuing their mission.
San Juan Bautista – Weeks after the main building of San Juan Bautista’s historic St. Francis Retreat was destroyed by fire, staff at the well-known facility are moving forward and continuing their mission.
“We are still operational,” said St. Francis Business Manager Ed DeGroot. “The main building burned down, but we’re still here, lock, stock and barrel.”
St. Francis’s first retreat, held last week, since the fire consumed the 143-year-old building June 23 was successful, he said. And two more groups are expected to come for retreats later this week.
“Right now it’s figuring out how to go back to being a retreat center after being a disaster zone,” DeGroot said.
The 25,000-square-foot retreat building at the historic religious center burned to the ground in the early morning hours of June 23. The fire took with it hundreds of priceless religious artifacts. It took more than 100 firefighters from a half dozen area fire departments to control the fire and keep it from spreading to other buildings located on the center. San Juan Bautista volunteer firefighters were the first on scene. Although firefighters were able to save some priceless artwork, crucifixes and religious artifacts, the majority of the building’s contents was consumed in the fire. One of the six Franciscan brothers living in the building was injured while trying to put out the flames. DeGroot said he had since be released from the hospital with minor injuries to his foot.
DeGroot said visitor lodging homes at the retreat weren’t damaged by the fire and could still be used. A large tent has been erected near the burned building to accommodate visitors during retreat meetings. The center is using the commercial kitchen behind the Mission San Juan Bautista to prepare food. The food then has to be transported back to St. Francis to feed the hundreds of retreat-goers expected in the next few weeks, De-Groot said.
“Our kitchen staff is stretched, but we’re addressing that,” he said. “This was a traumatic experience; it’s been touch and go at times, but usually more go than touch.”
While the day-to-day operations of the retreat have resumed, picking up the pieces has not been easy.
“We’re still trying to figure out our loss. It’s a daunting task,” DeGroot said Monday, estimating the cost of the main building at more than $1.5 million.
The retreat, owned by the Franciscan Friars of California, is working to establish a rebuilding fund called “Bring Back St. Francis” to collect donations and hopefully construct a new main retreat building, DeGroot said.
“People have been very supportive,” he said. “The first week after the fire we received more than $20,000 in donations. That was even before we solicited help. People are saying it’s ‘our retreat center.’ It is amazing.”
San Benito County Supervisor Anthony Botelho said he was encouraged, yet not surprised, by the outpouring from the community.
“I expected this type of response from our community,” he said. “Whenever our neighbors are in trouble, people step up and lend a hand.”
Botelho, who spent countless hours at the retreat while hunting as a child, has vowed to make sure future rebuilding efforts go smoothly.
“I will do all I can to help them move forward,” he said. “They do a lot for our community, and the business they bring in to our county is underappreciated. They bring in a lot of tourism.”
St. Francis, which is primarily used for spiritual retreats, has welcomed thousands of visitors during its last century in operation.
The retreat, built on the historic San Justo Rancho in 1863, was taken over by the Franciscans in 1940. It was once owned by Hollister’s namesake, Colonel W.W. Hollister.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Battalion Chief Curt Itson told the Free Lance last week that the cause of the fire was still unknown. He could not be reached for further comment on Monday. DeGroot said Monday that he believes the investigation into the cause of the fire is still underway.
Hollister business owner Bob Yant, whose company Enterprise Electric helped restore electricity to the retreat in the wake of the fire, was optimistic about the future of St. Francis.
“They are going to be able to rebuild and have something that is better than before,” he said Monday.
Brett Rowland covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
