A church community effort raised over a million dollars to remove an asbestos ceiling at St. Laurence Church in Upper Darby, writes Julie Ashton for My Droll, as reported on CBS 3 Philadelphia.

The church held mass for the first time in three years in the newly renovated space this past weekend.

“I call it the miracle on West Chester Pike,” parishioner Harry Dietzler said. “It’s amazing once the word got out, that Saint Laurence was in trouble, people stepped up to help.”

Workers built a two-story floor inside the spacious A-frame church so they could dismantle a ceiling full of tiny asbestos tiles.  

Removing the ceiling was a daunting task, given the size of the church.

“I almost can’t believe that it was done,” parishioner Margie Kane said. “There’s a lot of love in this place. A lot of people really loved this place and wanted to keep it.”

The parish at one time was the largest in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It’s smaller now but is also home to Latino and Vietnamese worshippers.

All of the church’s communities raised funds, helped along by a pastor with a vision to overcome obstacles. 

In the end, parishioners raised $1.7 million.

Find out more about St. Laurence Church’s huge church project at My Droll.