The Reason For This Blog...

Saint Patrick Parish, in Newry, Pennsylvania is the oldest established Roman Catholic Church in Blair County. Established in 1816, this year we are celebrating our 190th Anniversary. By the Grace of God, in marking this anniversary, we are building a new parish church (the Architect's design for the building is the image to your left) for the 455 families and 1,072 members of the parish. A number, again, thank God, that continues to increase. We had hoped to have renovated and enlarged our present church, but, building codes and engineering studies proved this would be impossible. We are building a new church due to the fact we have no handicap accessible bathrooms, preventing several parishioners from participating at Mass. Or seating capacity is not sufficient to accommodate our growing Catholic community. To help with expenses, we are retaining, and moving everything possible (pipe organ, windows, statues, pews) for use in the new church. Our estimate for this project is more than a million dollars. With the permission of our Ordinary, we will be able to borrow money when it becomes necessary to complete the project. To date, our parish has paid nearly $200,000.00 in construction costs, but, it is going to become necessary to begin borrowing. Something I would rather delay, as much as possible. I am appealing to all parishes named under the patronage of Saint Patrick, as well as all the Catholic Churches in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. If you can find the resources to assist us, please know that we will deeply appreciate any assistance, regardless of the amount. Even $50.00 or $100.00 will help us immeasurably, if you, or your parishioners cannot afford more. All donations will be remembered with memorial plaques or paving stones (made from the old church) in front of the new church as a way of saying "Thank you." Please visit our website at www.saintpatricknewry.org to see the plans of our new church. Whether or not you are able to contribute to our cause at this time, kindly keep us in your prayers as we will keep you in ours. And keep coming back to this blog for information how to make contributions over the internet.