Bishop Michael Fitzgerald on Sunday celebrated the noon Mass at St. Christopher Roman Catholic Church and presided over a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off two construction projects at the parish, 13301 Proctor Road in Somerton.
The parish, founded in 1953, plans renovations in the church building and construction of a 12,000-square-foot community center on the campus.
Specifically, the church will add more bathrooms, refurbish and replace pews and upgrade flooring.
Also, an addition will be built at the entry area of the church.
The community center — which many in the parish say is long overdue — will adjoin the school and accommodate activities such as basketball, volleyball, dance and theater.
Monsignor Joseph P. Garvin, the St. Christopher pastor for the last 25 years, thanked former state Sen. John Sabatina Jr. – now a Common Pleas Court judge – for delivering a $1.5 million grant toward the project.
The ceremony included prayer and hymns, and Fitzgerald blessed the ground where the addition will be built.
Fitzgerald said he’ll pray that what began at the groundbreaking will bring great benefit to the parish. The bishop said the center and the addition will be good for both the spirit and the body of parishioners.
“Growth is coming,” he said.
Among those in attendance were aides to state Rep. Martina White and state Sen. Jimmy Dillon.
After the groundbreaking, there was a reception in the parish hall with hoagies and plenty of snacks and pastries.
In addition to serving Catholics in Somerton, St. Christopher’s boundaries include portions of Feasterville-Trevose. ••
