…project to cost approximately $85M
To mark the commencement of the rebuilding of the Sacred Heart Church, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Guyana, Francis Alleyne, OSB, yesterday, ceremoniously turned the sod at the original site of the building at 67 Main Street in the capital city. At the sod-turning,Bishop Alleyne pointed out that the occasion is indeed a special one.
He said, “My vision for the sacred heart community, the living church, is that you may go beyond the mortar and the brick, the stone and the zinc.”
He noted that shortly after the fire that destroyed the building in 2004, he met with a concerned group from the area, comprised of Catholics and non-Catholics alike, who spoke of the church with affection and gratitude, which he said was indicative of the fact that the building served as a universal symbol.
“The faзade of the church said something to them that other buildings did not say, other places in the city did not communicate, just by being there, the building spoke of hope,” he said.
Bishop Alleyne also disclosed that the reconstruction would facilitate the rebuilding of the church, presbytery, and parish hall, which will in turn accommodate the smooth operation of other core activities such as religious education classes, choir, readers, and other group activities.
As to the significance of the ceremony, he said, “What we are doing here today is about you, the community, and about your church being rebuilt and becoming a living edifice.”
The estimated project cost is set at $85M and the parishioners explained that they are counting on the support of generous benefactors and donors, many of whom have already made pledges, and are awaiting the commencement of the project before bringing forward their contribution.
Sacred Heart Church has its origins in 1861, when a chapel designed by Father Schembri was opened on Christmas Day on the Main Street site, and which originally catered to the Portuguese population.
By 1882, under the leadership of Father Baldini, the building was extended to the footprint it had at the time of its destruction in 2004.
The destruction of the Sacred Heart Church by fire on December 25th, 2004 was a severe blow for all of the parishioners and the loss affected the community both physically and emotionally, as not only was a place of worship gone, but many outreach programmes were also affected.
In addition to the church, the adjoining primary school was also lost to the fire, displacing the students who attended the school.
The ceremonial launch held yesterday marked the beginning of the reconstruction of the Sacred Heart Church, and signifies that the beacon of hope would rise from the ashes once again.
Shortly after the fire it was arranged that he would meet a group of persons in the Kinston Area and he understood that some of them were not even Catholic.
Eh noted the affection and gratitude with which the persons spoke of the church and pointed out that the faзade of the church to them said something to them that other buildings did not say, other places in the city did not communicate, just by being there the building spoke of hope and of .
If the society said to these people, you were not worth very much the edifice at main Street said that they are different ways of measuring worth and dignity of each person.
He spoke of the explosion that rocked Stabroek Square in January  and noted that .
At this act many people were gripped with fear and  assailed with memories of conflict and violence, and conditioned to expect a repeat of these things especially as 2011 is an election year.
Our faith informs us otherwise, our faith is expressed and expresses itself in language of conciliation  in the language of peace , respect , trust and unity and goodness, protection, harmony .
My hope and my vision is that people of faith become ver fluent in the language of faith and that our places of worship would be ones where we can learn that language all of  these places can be signs and clear reminders that God is with us and always inviting us in fuller communion with him.
My vision for the sacred heart community, the living church, may go beyond the mortar and the brick, the stone , the zinc .
What we are doing here today is about you the community and about you being built and becoming an living edifice.
This is my hope and vision fro you that our worship with engagement with God will flow from this place and every place of worship and reach out where ever humanity is  broken or threatened or diminished .
For those starting fresh this is a special opportunity and my vision and hope
You have what it takes