Church expansion blessed

BENTLEYVILLE – A Roman Catholic parish in Bentleyville is expanding its church hall in a move that is viewed as a “sign of life” in a region where parishes are expected to be consolidated.
“This is a historic moment for this church,” said the Rev. Edward L. Yuhas, moderator of team ministry for six Roman Catholic churches in Southeastern Washington County.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh will invest $745,000 in locally raised money to enlarge the Ave Maria Church Hall at 209 Abromaitis St., Yuhas said before a groundbreaking ceremony was conducted Tuesday for the project.
Bishop David A. Zubik attended the event, saying the area parishes under review have churches that have been packed with parishioners in recent months during Masses.
“It’s a sign of the life of the community of people who want to work together,” he said, referring to the church hall expansion project.
The project to be completed next year will add a two-story building to the existing structure to house social halls and classroom spaces, meeting rooms, new restrooms, offices and a chapel.
Yuhas said there was a need to expand the church campus to create larger spaces for wedding and baptism receptions.
A Mass followed the groundbreaking to install Yuhas and the Rev. Paul J. Grunebach as leaders of the six churches in the five area parishes under review by an ad hoc committee.
Yuhas said Zubik in the spring called for a committee to “recommend a future blueprint of the Catholic churches in the area.” The recommendations are due next year and they are expected to create one parish in the area and possibly result in the closings of some of the church buildings.
The parishes involved in the study are Ave Maria, St. Agnes in Richeyville, St. Oliver Plunkett with churches in Fredericktown and Marianna, St. Joseph in Roscoe and St. Thomas Aquinas in California Borough.
The one parish is needed because of “changing demographics, changing trends” and a priest shortage, Yuhas said.