Sacred Heart fundraising for new church

Father Mike Smith stands inside Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Fruita Monday morning. The church will soon be for sale.

---

Richie Ann Ashcraft

Father Mike Smith stands inside Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Fruita Monday morning. The church will soon be for sale.

By Richie Ann Ashcraft
Monday, June 4, 2012

The congregation at Sacred Heart Catholic Church knows it’s time to go.

Their pretty church, built in 1890 on Aspen Avenue, was perfect when Fruita was a much smaller town. These days, the aging rock walls can barely hold the 450 households who now want to to worship there. Parking is hectic and indoor social space for meetings or weddings is limited.

“We want enough room for everybody who wants to be here so that means we need to build a new church,” said Father Mike Smith, pastor of the church since 2001.

Especially on holidays, the little church is filled past capacity, many sitting uncomfortably throughout a long mass.

The church has been plotting a move for some time. They raised and purchased a 16-acre parcel of land at 1210 17 1/2 Road in 2009.

Now, it’s time to raise money to build the church, Smith said.

Their Capital Campaign kicked-off last weekend and the church’s parishioners responded with an overwhelming amount of donation pledges to be collected over the next three years.

A total of $1.75 million dollars is needed to build Phase I of the new church and members promised to donate 45 percent of that goal already, said Ed Miller, campaign assistant. “That’s very, very good,” he added with excitement.

The first phase of construction is set to begin in early 2016, Smith said.

The parish hall and rectory will be sold sometime in the near future to help meet their goal, Father Mike said. It’s sad to lose the historical value of the church, he said, but many pieces such as the church’s pews and other significant relics will be moved to the new church. “It’s sad but there’s just not enough room here,” he said.

After all phases of construction are complete, the new church will include seating for 800, a new social center with tables for 160 guests, new offices, and outside enhancements such as a memorial courtyard and patio area. A total of $3.6 million dollars will be needed to complete project.

“We need everybody’s financial and spiritual support,” Smith said.

Donations can be made to Sacred Heart Church, P.O. Box 128, Fruita 81521.