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Belleville parish gets a new church |
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Written by Paula Antonello Moore, Catholic Register Special
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Friday, 29 June 2007 |
 Parishioners of Most Holy Rosary parish turned out for the sod-turning ceremony for their new church. (Photo by Marg Credico)
On June 15, nearly 100 parishioners and their families, together with pastor Fr. John Hibbard, special guest Fr. Brian J. Price, Kingston archdiocesan administrator, and several priests from the diocese gathered to hold the official sod-turning ceremony at the future site on North Park Street.
“This day has been a long time in coming. Fifty-four years to be exact,” Hibbard said.
The original church structure, built in 1953 on Donald Street, was meant to be a temporary location. It has served the parish’s 1,000 families as effectively as possible to date. However, due to initial inferior construction, there is no insulation, extensive work is required on the roof, plumbing is dated and the heating and air conditioning systems are unreliable.
“I want to publicly acknowledge the efforts of the Franciscan Friars (who administered the parish for its first 40 years) over the years, who, while they never succeeded in building a new and permanent church, nevertheless established a firm and vibrant foundation to this parish community. Without that spiritual base, a parish church building could not be constructed,” he said.
The new $4.1-million updated structure will boast seating for 400, meeting rooms, office areas, a large reception hall and a small chapel beside the main worship area.
The sod-turning ceremony began with Mass at 4:30 p.m. Then, armed with shovels, the group assembled to break ground following the singing of the national anthem.
Hibbard expressed sincere gratitude to all those who helped push the dream forward.
“I also want to acknowledge the efforts of (former pastor) Fr. Paul Hamilton who revived the idea and dream of a new parish church” 12 years ago, Hibbard said. Hamilton laid the groundwork for the new building.
Hibbard drew special attention to the generous donation of parishioner Jim Lorimer who endowed a substantial amount of money to the building fund upon his death. He concluded by expressing his profound thanks to the parishioners.
“Most of all, I would like to thank and acknowledge the efforts of the parishioners of Holy Rosary parish. Whatever we may say about the efforts of a pastor, it is really the support and work of the parishioners that makes any project a success. I thank you for your faithful support,” he said.
Price, pastor of St. Francis Xavier parish in Brockville, who was appointed temporary archdiocesan administrator earlier this year after the passing of Archbishop Anthony Meagher, presided over the event and performed a special blessing of the site.
The next phase for the new church will be to approve contractors in mid-July with construction beginning in August and expected to take a year to complete.
(Moore is a freelance writer in Belleville, Ont.)
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