By Angelica Bertot Santibanez - St. Louis Church
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
Doing the traditional shovel-turning for a groundbreaking, second from left: David Prada, archdiocesan director of the Office of Building and Property; Pinecrest councilmember, Cheri Ball; St. Louis Covenant School principal, Edward Garcia; Auxiliary Bishop Peter Baldacchino; Pinecrest Mayor, Cindy Lerner; Pinecrest councilmember, James E. McDonald and Father Paul Vuturo, pastor.
PINECREST | Church and community leaders gathered on June 3 to break ground for the long-planned Monsignor James Fetscher Fellowship Center, part of St. Louis Church. The building will house recreational and indoor sports, theatrical and fine arts performances and other events.
Auxiliary Bishop Peter Baldacchino kicked off the ceremony by talking about the impact the development will have on the community.
"We know the familiar words of the psalm: 'If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do its builders labor'," he said. "Whenever we look to the interests of our neighbor or the community and serve them, we are, in a sense, God’s own co-workers."
Besides Bishop Baldacchino, the groundbreaking was attended by Father Paul Vuturo, Principal Eddy Garcia and members of the Village of Pinecrest, along with development partner MCM. Pinecrest officials included Mayor Cindy Lerner and councilmembers Cheri Ball and James E. McDonald.
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
Auxiliary Bishop Peter Baldacchino blesses the ground where the Monsignor James Fetscher Fellowship Center will be built.
Along with the 17,000-square-foot Fetscher Center, the project includes expanding the existing parking lot and adding a recreational sports field on the St. Louis campus.
This $5 million project is a joint work of St. Louis parishioners with families from the church's Covenant School. The Capital Campaign Committee had been working on the plans for the project since 2012. Fundraising began in April 2013.
For years, the community has been using the main church space as a multipurpose facility. After completion of the new center, planned for June 2015, the main sanctuary will be reserved for sacramental events.
For more information visit the St. Louis campaign site.
