Miami, Fla., Aug 10, 2004 / 12:00 am (CNA).- St. Francis Xavier, the oldest black Catholic church in the Archdiocese of Miami, was formally dedicated for the first time Sunday, after completing a $14.5-million restoration to repair damage from a 2002 Christmastime arson, reported The Associated Press.

A 12-year-old boy, who had been expelled from the church’s school, set the 77-year-old church on fire Dec. 20, 2002, police said. No one was hurt in the fire. The extensive repairs needed to the sanctuary were mostly paid for with insurance money.

Church leaders were surprised to learn that Sunday's dedication was the first for the historic church, likely because it began as a black mission. Mission churches weren't dedicated the way other churches are, explained Miami Archbishop John C. Favalora.

''We were looking through the church archives and found that this church was never formally dedicated,'' told Rev. John Madigan, pastor of the parish, to Miami Herald. “I was just as surprised as anyone because this is very much a historic church.''

01:04 pm | Over 1,500 attend Philadelphia men’s conference

12:34 pm | Post office rate hike on mailings critical of homosexuals in the military overruled

11:05 am | Jesus is Justice in person, declares Benedict XVI at Angelus

07:50 am | Knights of Columbus rallying against ‘immoral' Philippines contraception campaign

04:52 am | Church celebrates feast of father of 10 turned hermit

Mexican Bishop denounces media’s inaccurate reporting on the Church

Murder of priest will not stop the work of the Church on the Mexican border, says bishop

Jail sentences for two men that disrupted Mass in German Cathedral

Nicaraguan former guerrilla acknowledges errors of the past and asks Church for forgiveness