It’s been 19 months since parishioners at St. Pius Tenth Catholic Church in Chili lost their church building in a New Year’s Day fire, but the rebuilding effort is nearing the construction phase.
“All the pieces are now coming into place,” Brian Porter, chair of the church’s nine-member Rebuild Committee, said in a news release in mid-July. “You can feel the excitement and anticipation building among our parishioners.”
The original church has been torn-down and the parish hired Rolf Rohn & Associates Design, Inc., a liturgical design consultation firm based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to assist with the design of the new St. Pius Tenth church.
The parish Rebuild Committee worked with Rohn to complete the conceptual design, which also included input garnered from parishioners during five “town hall style” meetings. Most recently, the bidding process for an architect, construction manager and civil engineer was completed. Porter says the parish hopes to break ground on the new church in October.
The design includes a large stained glass rose window which will be visible from Chili Avenue, a covered portico, a main entry which opens to a worship space featuring a marble altar and ambos, and a chapel located behind the altar for private prayer. Pews will provide seating for over 800 worshippers arranged in a semi-circular shape and, outside, an open garden and gathering area is planned to connect the church to the adjacent parish center.
The parish consists of 1,900 families and Porter explained that a capital campaign to cover reconstruction costs not covered by insurance resulted in pledges of more than $2 million, exceeding the original goal.
“Pledges are still coming in, and we’re now expanding the campaign to involve our neighbors and fellow Catholics in other parishes who have told us they want to help out,” Porter said. A fire restoration fund has been set up by the parish on its website – www.saintpiustenth.org – for anyone who would like to contribute.
Additional pledges will allow for connection of the church to the parish center as well as higher quality finishes.
Porter said since the January 2015 fire, the parish has received support and guidance from the staff of the Diocese of Rochester and Bishop Salvatore Matano, who recommended the parish contact a liturgical consultant to help meet guidelines from the National Conference of Catholic Bishops regarding the construction and renovation of Catholic churches.
“Our new church will be traditional in every sense, truly Catholic, have verticality that reaches to the heavens, and will give glory and praise to God,” parish leaders said.
