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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; After suffering a devastating ceiling collapse at their church, one congregation is being welcomed into another congregation&#8217;s house of worship to have services there.</p><p>Earlier this week, the ceiling at Ministerios Casa de Oracion Mahanaim, located on Parrish Street in Wilkes-Barre, suddenly collapsed. While no one was hurt during the collapse, it left the congregation of the church without a place to worship, according to co-pastor Paula Lobo.</p><p>That was, at least, until St. Anthony and St. George Maronite Church stepped in.</p><p>According to Linda Joseph, a parishioner of the Maronite church and president of the Rolling Mill Hill Residents&#8217; Association, her church reached out to help the struggling congregation.</p><p>Joseph said she and Father Paul Damien approached the congregation, offering use of St. George Chapel on Loomis Street, which the Maronite congregation largely doesn&#8217;t use.</p><p>After speaking with higher religious leaders, Joseph said, Damien confirmed the Ministerios Casa de Oracion Mahanaim congregation could use the facility.</p><p>Lobo said she is very thankful for the willingness to help.</p><p>&#8220;We found very, very good people,&#8221; she said. &#8220;God is good.&#8221;</p><p>For the time being, members of Casa de Oracion will be gathering in the church hall of St. George Chapel. Joseph said they offered use of the main church upstairs, but the congregation indicated the hall would be better suited to their services. So that&#8217;s where they&#8217;ll be having their services, every Saturday evening and Sunday morning.</p><p>Currently, though, it&#8217;s unclear what will become of their original building. Lobo said the church is in contact with insurance companies, engineers and contractors to determine if the building is salvageable. Until then, though, they&#8217;ve found a temporary home.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">The ceiling at Ministerios Casa de Oracion Mahanaim, seen here on Parrish Street in Wilkes-Barre, collapsed earlier this week. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_69592832_374939973427037_6481437899744083968_n.jpg</photo0><caption0>The ceiling at Ministerios Casa de Oracion Mahanaim, seen here on Parrish Street in Wilkes-Barre, collapsed earlier this week. </caption0><photoCredit0>Roger DuPuis | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Patrick Kernan</p><p>pkernan@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Patrick Kernan at 570-991-6386 or on Twitter @PatKernan</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes-Barre church ceiling collapse brings congregations together