Casa Grande’s St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church begins rebuilding after an intentional fire damaged the parish campus

Reconstruction plans advance after October 2024 blaze left the main church building unusable

A Catholic parish in Casa Grande, Arizona has moved from emergency response to reconstruction planning after an intentionally set fire severely damaged St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in October 2024. The fire forced the parish to close its primary worship space and prompted assessments that ultimately determined the structure could not be reasonably repaired.

Following months of evaluation and administrative approvals, the parish proceeded with demolition of the damaged church building in late July 2025. A final Mass was held ahead of the work, and parishioners gathered as demolition began. The campus includes multiple buildings erected across several decades, with portions of the broader property tied to the community’s religious and architectural history.

What is known about the fire and the response

• The fire occurred in the early morning hours of October 18, 2024 and caused extensive interior damage and impacted adjacent areas of the parish facilities.

• Authorities concluded the blaze was intentionally set; as of the most recent updates available, no arrest had been announced publicly in connection with the case.

• After the fire, the parish began a process that included structural and safety reviews and consultations leading to a decision to demolish the most heavily damaged building rather than attempt restoration.

Preserving sacred objects and continuity of parish life

As demolition and site preparation moved forward, parish leaders and staff prioritized the recovery of items intended to carry forward into a future sanctuary. Religious artifacts and historically meaningful elements were removed for preservation, including the cornerstone, a large crucifix, stained glass, statues, the tabernacle, and a time capsule. The aim is for these objects to be relocated into the rebuilt church, maintaining continuity with the pre-fire worship space.

“Only the blocks and bricks were taken down—our beautiful memories, devotion and love for the parish remain standing.”

Next steps: design, approvals, and rebuilding on the existing site

The parish has indicated the rebuilt church is expected to remain on the existing property and to incorporate salvaged elements. With demolition completed in stages, the project enters a phase that typically includes architectural design, permitting, fundraising and insurance coordination, and construction scheduling.

For Casa Grande’s Catholic community, the transition from damage assessment to rebuilding marks a significant operational shift: from securing the site and preserving key items to defining how a new worship space will function and what features it will retain from the former church. Additional details on timelines and final designs are expected to emerge as planning and approvals progress.