Fire destroyed a historic Catholic church near Temple early Monday, leaving nearly nothing behind, according to the Diocese of Austin.

Diocese officials said the cause of the fire that erupted at the Church of the Visitation in Westphalia has yet to be determined. It appears the church will be a total loss, officials said.

“I am saddened for the people of Westphalia who have suffered this tremendous loss,” said Bishop Joe S. Vásquez, who visited the parish on Monday. “I am grateful for all the firefighters and departments that responded to the fire. Please join me in keeping the people of this historic parish in your prayers today as they try to piece together this tragedy.”

The parish of the Church of the Visitation was founded in 1883 and serves 244 families.

According to the Diocese of Austin, Westphalia’s first European settlers named their community after the Westphalia province in Germany, from which many emigrated. In the early 1880s, they purchased a 100-acre parcel of land for a church and school, and began trying to build.

Their first two attempts, however, were destroyed by storms.

The Diocese said the Church of The Visitation marked the third attempt at construction. It was designed in the shape of a Latin cross with bell towers on each side that were built to withstand the storms that had frustrated earlier efforts. It contained more than 20 stained-glass windows that were shipped to Westphalia from Germany.

A dome-shaped structure was added to the church in 1914, and a large pipe organ was installed in 1921.

In 1978, the church received a state historical marker.

Since it's earliest days, the church had been a focal point of the community, both visually and spiritually. Even a few hours after the fire, Vásquez was optimistic that the church could be rebuilt.

“I think, yes, we have to rebuild. With the great tradition of this place, there is too much that we can't abandon,” Vásquez said, standing outside the ruins of the church. “This is a place that means so much to people. People brought their children to be baptized here. They were married here. They celebrated the sacraments here. They were buried from this church. There is a great love and tradition at this church.”