Dirt work begins on St. Mary’s

Dirt work began last week on the new St. Mary’s Catholic Church  after nine years of planning and fundraising.

Building committee member Chriss Clifford said the new 80-foot by 40-foot church building will extend from the west end of the Parish Hall, which was completed in 2016. She estimates construction will take six to seven months to complete.

“I’d like to be in by Christmas, but I don’t know if it’s possible because we were behind starting dirt work,” Clifford said.

St. Mary’s original 1892 building was demolished in 2019 after it was found to be structurally unsound and unsavable following a 2016 incident where a car ran into the historic structure.

The new church will have several features of the original building, Clifford said. The stained-glass windows were saved and will be reinstalled in the new church, some original bead board will be included in the new narthex, and the original altar and prayer rail will also be utilized.

Fundraising for the new church has been going on since 2016 and will continue this Friday, August 8, with a St. Mary’s Fish Fry from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 510 E. Montgomery.

With construction started on the new church building, everyone is asked to please enter through the east door of the Parish Hall.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for children. Proceeds benefit the church building fund. Call-in orders are welcome at 806-874-3910.