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breaking ground: Clergy, community, contractors, parishioners turn a shovel full of dirt at site of new Immaculate Conception Church in Columbia

Story and photos by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

On a bright, hot sunny afternoon clergy and representatives from the community and the contractors gathered to break ground for the new Immaculate Conception Church in Columbia.

Pastor, Msgr. Carl Scherrer, had invited everyone to bring a shovel June 24th for the groundbreaking. Many people accepted his invitation, and others were able to pick up a shovel on their way to the site.

As people turned shovels full of earth, Msgr. Scherrer said the contractor was encouraging them to continue so that the foundation could be laid earlier than it was scheduled.

“This is the first phase of the project,” Msgr. Scherrer said. Moving the Catholic school to the site would be in phase two, which would not move to the drawing board for some time.

Msgr. Scherrer said the parish hopes construction will begin on the new church in July with an estimated completion time of Nov. 15, 2012.

“Our present church was dedicated in December of 1867, so we’d like to be able to have the dedication of the new church in December of 2012, possibly on our parish’s patronal feastday, Dec. 8,” he said.

Korte and Luitjohan Contractors, Inc. of Highland, Ill., won the bid for $7.461 million for construction and site work.
The 33,800 square-foot facility includes an upper level worship space that will seat approximately 875 people, and a lower level space for parish offices, meeting rooms, a quilting room and large social center with a warming kitchen.

““Since our parish began planning to build a new church on a new site in 2003, our focus has always been to ‘Build Church While Building a Church,’ as a reminder that the Church is not brick and mortar, but a community of believers called by Christ to continue his mission of proclaiming the Good News of the Father’s love.

“This process, then, has been not just about building a new building, but about building up our community of faith by renewing our commitment to Christ and to one another.“

This is why we invited everyone to bring their own shovels to be an active part of the ground-breaking celebration, to symbolize that each and every member of the parish is an integral part of the life, work and mission of the Church.

“We are all living stones of God’s holy temple! I believe this new church building and parish center will enable our ever-growing parish to better celebrate and live the faith we all treasure,” Msgr. Scherrer said.

In his remarks at the ground breaking, Bishop Edward K. Braxton said: “I am pleased to be with you to thank and encourage you for what you have done and what you will continue to do.”

When breaking ground for a new church, the bishop said, the temptation is to thank all of the people who have contributed time talent and treasure to the project.

However, from the very beginning, he said, this project has been accompanied by reflection and prayer.
“As you set out to break ground, I encourage you to think about what you will be doing in this space,” the bishop said.
He encouraged them to remember they would be standing on holy ground when they entered the new church.

After his homily, the bishop walked around the perimeter of the grounds, sprinkling the ground and the people with Holy Water.

Resurrectionist Father Gary Hogan, part-time Parochial Vicar, also attended the ground breaking.

Msgr. Scherrer spoke of Father Steve Gira, CR the former associate, who died of cancer Dec. 6, 2010. He was present for many meetings about the building project over the years, Msgr. Scherrer said.