Faith is an integral part of millions of Americans’ daily lives. “One Nation Under God” is committed to reflecting America’s voices, values and communities covering stories of faith and religion, from the latest headlines to stories of hope. Subscribe here.

() The parish priest of a Catholic church in Pacific Palisades that burned to the ground in the Los Angeles fire says the tabernacle is the sole item in the building to have survived.

“I got a phone call from a captain … in the LA city fire department,” said Monsignor Liam Kidney, pastor of Corpus Christi Catholic Church. “He said, ‘I’m here in your church … and I have found this big, gold box. What would you like me to do with it?’” 

Despite the church, school and rectory burning down, the tabernacle was undamaged. The captain made sure Kidney got it back. 

“The name of our parish is ‘Corpus Christi,’ which means the body of Christ. The tabernacle in the Catholic tradition is where we put the body of Christ. It’s saved and protected in the tabernacle,” Kidney told . 

“The fire comes in and destroys the church, and everything in the church. But it does not destroy the people,” he said.

Monsignor Kidney calls it a sign 

Monsignor Kidney says he wouldn’t call it a miracle but rather a sign. 

“To me, it says that our Jesus is with us before the fire, during the fire and now after the fire,” he said. “Nothing will destroy the presence of Jesus … so it gives us great hope.”

Msgr. Kidney says he is working with his community to rebuild the church, school and rectory.

“The idea is to move forward together,” he said.