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corpus christi in shiloh blesses, breaks ground for new church

Story and photos by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

Corpus Christi Parish in Shiloh has taken a first step in building its new church — the blessing of the ground at the south side of the parish center at a July 15 blessing and ground-breaking.

Actual construction of the $1.8 million church is scheduled to begin in September and finish in the spring of 2011.

Msgr. Margason said the parish had been working toward this celebration for four years when the first studies and fund raising had begun.

The present church holds 180 people and the new church will hold 400, Msgr. Margason said.
“The new church will be very simple but also a beautiful place to worship,” he said.

The architectural firm, White and Borgognoni, is located in Carbondale. The firm hopes that the bulk of the work can be completed by people within the diocese, Msgr. Margason said.

Msgr. Margason described the blessing as “a significant point for all of us” because it means the building project will move forward and “we have the blessing of the diocese.”

In his remarks, Bishop Braxton told the people gathered for the blessing to remember, even as they construct a new church building, the people of God are the church.

“First and foremost is the people and the whole assembly — you become God’s gathered people,” the bishop said.
Msgr. Margason said building a new church is “very challenging” but also “very encouraging.”

The bishop encouraged the people gathered at the blessing, to “open yourselves to the Spirit; be open to conversion and to change, to see things on a deeper level” as they continue “this journey” to build a new church.

Msgr. Margason said the parish is still considering how to utilize the current church after the new church opens.