By:Angela Marshall
Fund-raising for the new center began in 1999, just two years after Monsignor James P. Kelly was named rector of St. Agnes Cathedral. The fund-raising campaign also included plans to purchase a pipe organ and renovate the convent. Both projects have been completed. But due to the high cost of construction, the Parish Center had to be delayed and scaled down.
Kelly is pleased with the final results. Walking through the 8,300-square-foot main room, he asked, Isn-t it beautiful? He pointed out the detailed woodwork and the electric shades that will cover the windows when students from St. Agnes Cathedral School come over to watch videos shown on the new state-of-the-art projector.
The old St. Agnes High School, the alma mater of many parishioners, was torn down to make room for the $4 million Parish Center.
Finishing touches were still being made as Kelly led a tour of the building last Thursday. But even through the construction dust, the monsignor had no trouble picturing the important new role this building will play in the lives of St. Agnes parishioners. He envisions Sunday-afternoon gatherings after Mass, receptions and other functions held by parish clubs. The more it-s used, the better I-ll like it, Kelly said.
He said no specific schedule for the building-s use has been set. It will evolve over time as parish members and clubs grow accustomed to its availability. But one thing-s for sure: The annual Parish Dance, long held at Molloy College, is being held at home this year.
I think it-s great to finally have a location where the parish can get together, said John Westerman, one of the fund-raising chairs for the project. He called the center a beautiful addition to the St. Agnes campus, and believes it will be put to great use by the many parish organizations especially the school, which, he said, lacks a place to hold general assemblies for the student body.
The building has a reception area at one end, a foyer with couches at the other, the main gathering room, storage closets and a warming kitchen. There is a full basement that will be used only for storage at first. Wheelchair accessible, the new building also has an elevator connecting it to the Cathedral-s Lower Hall and the Monsignor Melton Gymnasium.
I think this will be a good place for the parish to gather, Kelly said. I hope that it gets a lot of use.
