October 5, 2008
St. Joseph Parish in O'Hara Builds for Future
O'Hara, PA - A foundation for the future was laid this past week at St. Joseph Parish.
It's hard to tell on the 12-acres of graded ground, but pieces of the $5 million construction project are falling properly into place. "I jump up every morning to see what's happening," said the Rev. Thom Miller, pastor at the site along Dorseyville Road. "The most exciting thing is that it's happening at all."
Founded in 1845, St. Joe's is in the midst of an expansion that includes a new worship space that will replace the current chapel housed in the school basement. Seating will increase from 450 to 615. Plans are also to renovate the existing building and grounds, complete with a grotto, baseball field and $1 million retention pond to abate stormwater runoff.
To passersby, the work site probably doesn't look like much, but contractors already have laid intricate groundwork. Old maps were marked with incorrect information regarding the sewerage system, Miller said.
Joe Batterby, superintendent of Nello Construction, said, "Underground utilities were not where they were supposed to be." Three historical drawings of the sewerage system were each off the mark. "When the excavator began to drill holes for the building caissons, he came across several pipes that weren't identified as being there," parishioner and building committee chairman Fred O'Brien said.
The architect and the contractor developed an innovative and economical plan to re-route the drainage off our current roof to the other side of the building.
On adjoining property that the church bought, crews completed a 40-foot retention pond to comply with the Allegheny County Conservation District. A home that sits on the property will be razed to make room for parking.
A Growing Congregation
Primarily, the project goal is to enhance space for a growing congregation, which currently has about 3,000 members. There's also a desire to grow programs such as pre-school, youth ministry and CCD, and space was previously limited.
The new two-story facility will accommodate needs, complete with a social hall on the ground floor. Despite project costs climbing from $3 million to $5 million, Miller said parishioners have been faithful to their pledges and kept the fundraising on track.
So far, the committee led by Denis and Elizabeth McCarthy has brought in more than $3.8 million. One cost not figured into the estimates is for the grotto, which Miller said is a critical piece of the design. It will sit in the corner of the property, beyond the playground. "We'll worry about fundraising for that later, but we have to have it," Miller said. "It will set the tone. As people drive into the grounds, they'll see a picture of Our Lady."
By Tawnya Panizzi
Tribune-Review News Service
Article: St. Joseph Parish in O'Hara Builds for Future
Issue: Sunday, October 5, 2008