It is little more than five in the afternoon and the March sun, almost spring, shyly illuminates the fifth floor of the parish building of the Church of La Paloma. The rays penetrate between the metal plates that prop up the devastated walls of the building on Toledo Street number 98. An open almanac with the January 2021 page still hangs on a wall, intact and oblivious to what happened around it. As if time had stopped with that damn gas explosion. It was just under 15 p.m. on January 00.

Father Gabriel Benedicto, parish priest of La Paloma, returns to contemplate this pseudo-war scenario and, once again, reconstructs aloud that fateful January noon. "It was the feeling that it wasn't my day. I lived on the sixth floor [look at the sky] that sank. I hadn't gone down for days because I had covid and I came across those who died. They came in when they shouldn't have gone in and I left when I shouldn't have left. It was a tough day... very hard." Although he has told it many times, his stomach is still wrinkled. The memory of Rubén, who was staying on that fifth floor, or David. The loss of two lives – Javier Gandía and Stefko Ivanov – that had nothing to do with the parish. He had just entered the church when the building exploded. "This was all littered with rubble. It was chaos." In spite of everything, he does not lower his gaze, while the sun submerges in the crystals of two lamps that resisted the tremendous explosion and still hang from the ceiling.

787 days have passed, but no one in the parish of La Paloma has put themselves in profile or crossed their arms. The insurance covered damages. That is, debris removal, plating or repairs of the roof and stained glass windows of the church. Along the way there have been some distastes, as when they went to ask for explanations at Canal de Isabel II, where they were received, but also referred to the gas company, with which they could not talk. The exhaust was an accident, so... "We had to move, as they weren't going to take over. I have the theory of raindrops: in the end, when they channel many drops they become a torrent. Rebuilding is up to us and we start from scratch," Father Gabriel calmly says, after months juggling so that the activity of the parish can continue its course.

Interior of the damaged parish building. JAVIER BARBANCHOMUNDO

Numbers haunt his head day and night. Right now, the accounts don't come out. For everything to make sense, two million euros are needed. That is the initial goal. "With half a million we throw away the structure and with another half we lift it. We cannot start without a funding strategy. With that money, we could ask for a loan of two others from the diocese to complete the project, "reasons the parish priest, while observing, already on the fourth floor, the remains (wrapped and numbered on the floor) of an altarpiece of the Nativity, of which barely survives a face of the Virgin on a golden background. Right now, they are in full dialogue with the administrations to try to have another small push to their cause.

"Cerezo opened many doors for us"

The website reconstruyelapaloma.es serves as a window so that this air in the form of economic aid can enter at all hours. From there you can make donations. At the close of the article, 553,668 euros had been raised, of the 912,934 estimated for that first phase that includes demolitions and structures. "Donations are coming. There are companies that have donated 300,000 euros to us. Another, elevators. Even the architecture studio Álvarez-Sala has made us a great project. We are confident that the building permit will be ready next summer," he sighs.

Father Gabriel observes the parish building of La Paloma.JAVIER BARBANCHOMUNDO

On the web you can buy socks, t-shirts, sweatshirts or blankets, as well as a craft beer -Lo+popular- by Javi and José. "They're some guys from the neighborhood who make stout and they were going to throw a blonde. They showed solidarity and they do it for free, without any benefit for them."

There are familiar faces who have wanted to lend a hand. Like Enrique Cerezo, president of Atlético de Madrid, born in Calle de la Paloma and baptized in that church. "Enrique asked us what we needed. And, of course, we needed everything. He supported us, gave us 10,000 euros, offered us the stadium and has opened many doors for us. Look I'm from Real Madrid, but Enrique is nicer...", he admits, already on the ground floor of the ramshackle building. The players of Atlético, the comedian José Mota or the journalist Inmaculada Galván, apart from Cerezo himself, have recorded videos to claim support for this cause.

"We hope to return home"

There are also a handful of initiatives. Like the great gala dinner (200 euros) to be held at the Cívitas Metropolitano, on loan from the rojiblanco club, on May 25 (20.00 hours). Or the pilgrimage to the Holy Land on September 23. Or the sale of personalized t-shirts for WYD (World Youth Day) in Lisbon, between August 1 and 6.

Interior of the damaged parish building. JAVIER BARBANCHOMUNDO

"This is a project that supports citizenship. It has liked that the parish moves, although rather we are the back room of the Dove, which is the popular Virgin of Madrid. There are many dimensions that are not the usual ones of a parish. We welcome associations and ALS patients, organ donors... We have a cultural, religious and educational dimension. We do not ask for bread, but for help. We hope to return home, although it is a long road."

Before saying goodbye, Father Gabriel Benedict looks back to heaven. Because another miracle on 98 Toledo Street is possible. "I wish all the problems were money."

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