MOUNT PLEASANT — Plans for a 39,000-square-foot community center for the surrounding Catholic communities in Mount Pleasant were unveiled on Sept 27.
Committee members from Christ Our King and the Christ Our King/Stella Maris School assessed, with the input of church ministries in the region, the need for the Catholic Community Life Center.
The vision of the center is to provide an environment that encourages the spiritual, educational, artistic, and recreational growth among all the generations of our East Cooper Catholic community.
Accommodating the “life” theme of the center, architectural plans include a large reception hall, professional stage, commercial kitchen, meeting/training classrooms and administrative offices. Improvements to the Christ Our King/Stella Maris School, which are included in the five-year building project, include a gymnasium with regulation basketball court, lockers, showers, athletic offices and space for the after-school program.
A fund-raising campaign began in October and will run through Nov. 30.
Msgr. James A. Carter, pastor of Christ Our King complimented his parishioners saying they showed tremendous enthusiasm and support of the new facility.
“The addition will provide a much-needed and long-awaited gymnasium and parochial facilities including a nursery as well as a gathering space for our senior citizens and everyone in between,” he said.
Msgr. Lawrence B. McInerny, pastor of nearby Stella Maris on Sullivan’s Island, urged his parishioners, to be supportive: “A wise community invests in its young people, especially in their education. My fervent hope is that all of our people will support the efforts of this campaign to provide for the students of Christ Our King/Stella Maris School and all young people in our area.”
Father Paul A. Brenninkmeijer, pastor of the New Catholic Community East of the Cooper, said, “We are all equal partners with different gifts to share. The new center will provide an excellent forum for us all to come together to share our gifts.”