Overview
- The rectory on Fair Avenue near St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church suffered an explosion and fire that heavily damaged the building after a passerby reported smoke, and no residents or nearby homes were hurt on Saturday.
- Father Jimmy Drennan had left the rectory minutes earlier to prepare for vigil Mass and returned to find the interior engulfed, yet he continued to lead his regular services the next day and publicly thanked emergency responders.
- Neighbors say a passing motorist first noticed smoke from the attic and alerted the block, and local firefighters and EMS quickly contained the blaze with no reported injuries.
- The Archdiocese of San Antonio posted about the incident to Facebook, drawing wide community engagement, and Drennan is temporarily staying with a friend while the church and insurers assess next steps.
- The rectory, built in 1962 and used to house clergy, now faces an insurance assessment and repairs that could displace occupants and require the parish to manage housing and restoration logistics during the investigation.