Many have seen or heard some of the recent heavy construction at Christ the King. The noise and construction is due to a new parish center that, according to principal Chris George, should be completed in the winter of the 2016-2017 school year and will be used by the entire Christ the King community.

The project was originally scheduled to be finished this November, but because of delays the completion  has been pushed back until further notice. The new building will cost over $3 million dollars and has been largely funded by private donations.

“The new center will be used for Parish events, socials, receptions, and meetings,” Mr. George states. “It will also serve as our school cafeteria and the venue for our Christmas and spring musical programs, back to school night gatherings, and faculty meetings.”

According to a Christ the King church bulletin, “The center will allow us to provide more advanced types of adult enrichment programs, in part because of the advanced forms of technology that will be available. It is also possible that the center can generate revenue for the parish by offering it for rent when it is not being used by the parish. Finally, this facility may allow Christ the King to start new traditions, such as parish dinners.”

The first and second graders who  attend Christ the King have the best view of the project because their classroom windows face the ongoing action.

Mr. George states that the construction isn’t much of an inconvenience and the parents have been very patient and understanding throughout the process. The construction has made it slightly more difficult to walk to church on Fridays and Christ the King has had to change their release procedures for kindergarten through second grade, because they have had to close the parking lot nearest to the church. This has caused traffic on Michael Drive because of an influx of cars at the end of the school day.

There will be little to no effect on La Salle’s student body. However Mr. George states that a new parking lot is being added along with a bioswale, which will exist in between the church and La Salle’s north parking lot.

Lastly, Mr. George states, “The building will provide our Parish and school community with a gathering space to build fellowship and spend quality time together. This sacred space will enrich the lives of our parishioners, students, parents, and members of our faculty. Time spent together in this space will be centered around our collective faith and we can’t wait until it is finished and ready for us!”