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    Wednesday, May 08, 2024

    Notre Dame cathedral to hold first Mass since fire

    In this April 26, 2019, file photo, a worker checks the waterproof tarps on Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. The billionaire French donors that publicly promised flashy donations totalling hundreds of millions to restore Notre Dame, have not yet paid a penny toward the restoration of the French national monument, according to church and business officials. Instead, it's mainly American citizens that have footed the bills and paid salaries for the up to 150 workers employed by the cathedral since the April 15 fire. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

    Paris -- Notre Dame cathedral will hold its first Mass since the devastating fire that ravaged the structure in April.

    The Archdiocese of Paris announced that a Mass will be celebrated on Saturday at 6 p.m. — two months after the fire that left much of the structure, including the spire, damaged.

    Mass will be led by Paris’ archbishop, Michel Aupetit, and only 30 people — including clergy and laypeople — will be allowed to attend due to safety concerns. However, the service will be broadcast for others to see on KTO television.

    “May all those who mobilized as early as April 15, and all those who continue to work every day for Notre Dame, be they donors, architects, construction workers, political leaders, be warmly thanked for their efforts,” said Aupetit.

    After the fire broke out, French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to rebuild the cathedral within five years.

    Since the tragedy, the Notre Dame Foundation has received 15.7 million euros, or around $17.6 million, to rebuild the cathedral. Another 41,000 people and 58 companies have pledged 377 million euros, or around $423 million, in pledges to have the structure restored.

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