The groundbreaking for the new Matthew 25 Center occurred on Saturday, October 2, 2011.
To recap the history of this new building, with the help of Glen Ritchey, our financial controller, I convened a master planning committee last fall. The committee was charged with charting a course for our physical plant over the course of the next 25 years.
After the completion of this process, it was determined that our first priority was a new 13,000 square foot Matthew 25 building that will house the Trinity Free Clinic as well as our various ministries under the Merciful H.E.L.P. Center umbrella.
Once the course was charted, we have been going about the process of obtaining needed approvals from the city/county as well as the diocese in preparation for the groundbreaking. Considering how much the devil must hate such an endeavor, up to this point, it has been amazingly smooth!
After the new building is complete, the old convent building (the existing Matthew 25 Center) will be raised and a new parking lot will be added that will not only serve the Matthew 25 Center but all of us, most especially on Sunday morning!
I am so pleased that on our list of parish priorities, that our ministry to the poor of our area is our first priority. It is our privilege to serve Jesus in the eyes of the poorest of the poor as Mother Teresa so often said during her ministry.
I remember the day we blessed the old convent, dedicating it for use for our outreach. It seemed so big that we would never use all the space. Who could have foreseen all the good that our parishioners would do in the name of Jesus to assist those in need? It is truly a miracle.
- Fr. Richard Doerr
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Pastor