By Andy Ostmeyer

aostmeyer@joplinglobe.com

LAMAR, Mo. — Although parishioners asked for leniency for the man who burned down their church in February, their hard work is still ahead of them.

Terry Riegel, president of the St. Mary’s Parish Council, said he believes the parish will have to raise at least “six figures” to build a new church. Parishioners have organized a fundraising committee and put on several events, including one Saturday.

John Franklin Manco was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison for the fire and other crimes. He had previously pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree arson and second-degree burglary related to the Feb. 8 fire at the church, 200 E. 17th St. in Lamar. The roof of the century-old building collapsed in the fire.

“Right now we are waiting for the architect,” Riegel said of plans to rebuild the church. “He is supposed to be finishing up right now.”

Parishioners also will need approval from the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau before they can begin building. In the meantime, they are attending Mass in the parish center.

Without the renderings by the architect, the parish doesn’t have a final price, but Riegel said the difference between what insurance will pay on the old church — which was built in 1904 — and what the new church will cost could be several hundred thousand dollars.

Yet the parish, he said, wants to stay out of debt.

“Our (fundraising) goal is going to be exactly what is needed to cover it,” he said. “The goal is not to go into debt whatsoever.”

Parishioners also are taking on the task of building a church that will seat more people, anticipating a day when there will be fewer priests. The old church held 135 people, but Riegel said the day will come when there may be only one Mass in town on weekends, and it will need to accommodate everyone.

“We are going to have a church, and it is going to seat 200 people,” he said.

More than $10,000 has been donated by various groups so far, and a fundraising event this summer raised nearly $1,000.

Maria O’Sullivan, chairwoman of the finance committee for the parish, said events have included a quilt raffle, and on Saturday parishioners raised $661.65 through the citywide garage sale.

They are considering other events, including a dance and a golf tournament, although those have not been scheduled