St. Francis de Sales Cathedral needs a new roof, and fundraising efforts thus far have raised about 70 percent of the needed $300,000.

“We’ve had quite a bit of roof damage,” said Dawn Coles, parish secretary.

The shingled roof is more than 30 years old. Leaks have recently caused damage to the lathe-and-plaster layer, resulting in the loss of three tiles inside the cathedral at First and Church streets.

Of the $300,000 total, the Diocese of Baker contributed $100,000 and Catholic Extension Services provided a $45,000 grant that required a match. A local donation of $50,000 plus $28,000 from other donors met that match requirement.

“That was a huge blessing,” Coles said.

The next fundraising effort is a “Raise the Roof Fiesta” planned for Friday, May 4, at the Baker Elks Lodge, 1896 Second St.

Social hour begins at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and a live auction at 7 p.m. There will also be a silent auction.

Dinner will be catered by El Erradero.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at Betty’s Books, Community Bank, St. Francis de Sales parish office and TEC Copier Systems.

Coles said tickets need to be purchased by April 30 so the restaurant can have an accurate count for food.

Donations to help fund the new roof are tax-deductible.

See more in the April 13, 2018, issue of the Baker City Herald.