Construction of the church started in August of 1928 and things were finally moving forward to the delight of all the parishoners. On May 24th of 1929 a cyclone ripped through the town of Pontiex and destroyed much of what had been built including completely destroying the arched dome – at that time the ceiling of the church was considered to be an advanced design. Sadly insurance did not cover cyclone damage unless the roof was complete.     The result of what must have been a heart-breaking sight for both the people of the community and the construction workers resulted in a few key ripple effects. The decision was quickly made to clean up and carry on with the construction in spite of the considerable cost to do so. As a result the church was now behind schedule by a year. At the time many had hoped that the church would be designated as a Cathedral, due to the significant number of Catholics in the area, there was a real need to establish a bishopric in the region. With the significant delay caused by the cyclone damage, the dream of the church becoming a Cathedral and of there being a diocese of Pontiex, died when the Vatican announced (a full year before Notre Dame was completed) the  creation of the Diocese of Gravelbourg.

     Sadly this was not the only disappointing result of the cyclone. In the original drawings there were plans to place a pipe organ in the church. A considerable amount of space in the choir loft was to have been dedicated to the construction of an organ. When one sees the church and realizes that there was to have been such an instrument one can’t help but imagine what it would have looked like, how many pipes it would have had, and how amazing it would have sounded. These instruments however are of considerable expense and when the need to cover the damage arose, the organ was likely the first casualty. Today the church still waits to embrace a pipe organ. How amazing it would sound!!!!!!

   The people of Pontiex however were and are very resourceful and while there has never been an actual pipe organ, one of the first organs to assist in leading the congregation in song was, surprisingly, a small pump organ. Even though the pump organ in significantly smaller then a pipe organ the acoustics of the church insured that even this small instrument could fill the space with sacred song. 

 Surprisingly this small pump organ is still, for the most part, in working condition. While still functioning, it is easy to tell that this little instrument was put to good use. Today this organ is hidden away in a small room perhaps resting in the hope that one day it will be able to sing praise in the church.

 

 

 

    One of the other lasting effects of the cyclone is the fact that many of the people who grew up there will tell you that the church has been built to last.