By Taylor J. Hale
Staff Writer

STEVENS POINT – Holy Spirit Parish celebrated the groundbreaking of their new Parish Center on May 19.

Pastor Steve Brice and church community members donned hard hats and golden shovels as they broke ground on the project, which is schedule for completion by late February. The addition, located on parish grounds, will include a large multi-purpose room, office spaces, and a library.

Holy Spirit is a student-focused organization. Parish leaders see this new addition as a way to welcome UW-Stevens Point and Mid-State students into the church.

“It’s being designed with (students) in mind — so they will have a place to call home when they are away from home at school,” Brice said.

The expansion costs roughly $3.5 million, with the bulk of funding coming from parishioner campaigning efforts.

Parish members place their stones in a gathering area to be set in the foundation of the new addition.

“They raised about $3.5 million in pledges,” Brice explained. “There is also about $400,000 in savings that did accumulate over a long number of years.”

Existing parish structures are also set to see $1.4 million in renovations and updates.

“We are renovating the church, new heating, cooling, a new baptistery, handicap accessibility, and painting,” Brice said.

Church leaders blessed the construction site grounds and allowed parishioners to help build a foundation for the new structure. Personalized rocks, designed by guests, will be incorporated into the base of the building.

“The concept is, a church is not just brick and stone, it’s a living community,” Brice added. “We know that the real foundation is the people. This is just a way to make that visible. We are what is going to hold all this together and hold it up.”

Attendees marked the rocks with illustrations and sayings. Brice believes that each stone represents a community member’s commitment to the church.

Church leaders noted that of the 950 families associated with the parish, over two-thirds contributed financially to the project.

Holy Spirit Parish is located at 838 Fremont St., Stevens Point. To learn more about Holy Spirit Parish visit: https://holyspiritstevenspoint.org.