Holy Spirit Parish breaks ground for new, larger church in Denver
DENVER — Sunday at Holy Spirit Church was a jubilant celebration of the “living stones” who made a new church possible after years of hard work and persistence.
More than 250 people gathered excitedly under a large tent July 28 to break ground on a new, larger Holy Spirit Church. After persevering through multiple capital campaigns over nearly 12 years, they were undaunted by the heat and the muddy construction site.
The $12.5 million building project is the parish’s response to its tremendous growth, which has topped 1,000 families driven by the escalating population in the Lake Norman area.
The 16,000-square-foot church will seat 675 people and feature traditional Catholic architecture with rounded arches, stained-glass windows, choir loft, baptistry, and twin towers bookending the main entrance.
‘IT TAKES VISION’
The site blessing and groundbreaking ceremonies were led by Bishop Michael Martin, OFM Conv., and Holy Spirit’s pastor Father Carmen Malacari, with special guest Monsignor John McSweeney, who was instrumental in Holy Spirit’s early years. According to diocesan officials, the special liturgy before the groundbreaking, “Order of Commencement of Work to Build a Church,” was a first for the diocese.
Bishop Martin commended them and the parishioners as “living stones” who have created a solid foundation for the thriving Denver parish.
“All of us realize that firm foundations are critical for any endeavor,” he said. “When I look out and see all of you, you are the firm foundation upon which this church is being built.”
Bishop Martin had traveled to Denver for the celebration just after offering Mass for 500 people at Catholic Family Day at Carowinds that morning, which prompted a few jokes from an already exuberant crowd.
The bishop made the most of the fun.
“An hour and 45 minutes ago I was on a rollercoaster – if you can get an actual mental image of that,” he said at the opening of his remarks, eliciting several chuckles.
Everyone kept smiling as he went on to praise the parish and its pastor for their efforts to push through despite delays due to the pandemic, escalating construction costs and design alterations.
“It takes vision, it takes determination, it takes commitment, and it takes perseverance to build a church,” he said. “You’re blessed to have a pastor, Father Carmen, who possesses all of these qualities.”
Bishop Martin continued, “I understand that this has been a project in the planning for quite some…”
Pausing, he hung his head. “Forever.”
The crowd roared with laughter, to which the bishop deadpanned, “There you have it – so he’s very patient. He’s been waiting forever for this.”
Someone from the crowd wisecracked, “It’s been a rollercoaster!”
Turning to a grinning Father Malacari, Bishop Martin said, “Thank you, Father Carmen, for leading us to this moment.”
The crowd erupted into cheers for them both.
‘A NEW BEGINNING’
The laughter continued as Father Malacari recounted how the parish acquired the extra land for the new church.
It was all thanks to Monsignor John McSweeney, he said, whose business savvy taught him the importance of buying land.
Holy Spirit began in 1979 as a community of about 30 Catholics who used a nearby Episcopalian church for Mass. By 1987, when Monsignor McSweeney was the diocese’s number-two, the congregation had grown large enough to need a church of its own.
One day in 1988, he and then Charlotte Bishop John Donoghue were driving along Highway 16.
“I was always looking for land,” he recalls with a grin.
At the time, the area was undeveloped, but both knew the Lake Norman area was promising.
They spotted an old county school property up for auction, and Bishop Donoghue said, “Let’s see what they want for that building.”
The diocese and the parish teamed up to bid and were granted the 6.5 acres and 7,300-square-foot school for $335,000.
Yet the prelates had to obscure their identity for the sale, Monsignor McSweeney explains with a chuckle, because of anti-Catholic bias at the time.
“I dressed up in my farm clothes. They didn’t know who… I was, and I didn’t let them know, until we bought it!’”
Years later while serving at St. Matthew Parish, Father Malacari saw firsthand Monsignor McSweeney’s skills as “an incredible, incredible businessman” while developing that sprawling campus in south Charlotte.
When he moved to Denver, Father Malacari said, he followed Monsignor McSweeney’s example and bought up adjacent land to prepare for growth.
What does Monsignor McSweeney think about Denver’s future church?
“Beautiful,” he said. “It’s a new beginning.”
‘SOMETHING NOT SEEN BEFORE’
For years, the Denver parish has needed to move to a larger building to accommodate more worshipers. Masses are currently celebrated in a converted gym next door to the original church, which now functions as parish offices.
The new church will be built on a visible height facing Highway 16, on an open lot adjacent to the Parish Activity Center.
Sunday’s groundbreaking was held on the exact site of the future altar.
Handling the ceremonial shovels were Bishop Martin, Monsignor McSweeney, Father Malacari and Deacon Matt Reilly; architects William Heyer of Columbus, Ohio, and Scotty Smith with ADW of Charlotte; Mark Baucom from general contractor Hickory Construction; and Tommy Touchstone, head of the parish building committee.
As a civil engineer, Touchstone said groundbreakings are nothing new to him, but witnessing his parish’s big day was “a thrill.”
He said he’s proud of what the parish has planned in close collaboration with the diocese. “This church is going to be something that the diocese hasn’t seen before.”
Construction is expected to take 16 months, and parishioners hope to be worshiping in the new church by the end of 2025.
‘A LASTING LEGACY’
Noting their happy anticipation for a new church, Bishop Martin urged parishioners to remain focused on the right goal.
“As we go forward as a faith community, as we realize what we’re being given and what we’re making, let us not take ownership of the building in the sense that ‘this is mine.’ It’s not mine! It’s ours for a moment,” he said.
“There will be challenges in the days ahead,” he added. “May we pray for peace, may we pray for safety, and may we pray ultimately that we carry ourselves through this building process with the same spirit that Jesus did as He built the Church upon the apostles and their disciples thereafter: with love, forgiveness, understanding and, above all, with deep communion to the Father.”
“We all come and go. What we’re trying to leave is a lasting legacy … something that gives praise and honor to the Holy Spirit,” he said. The effort is “for God’s greater glory, not our own. Amen?”
The crowd joyfully answered, “Amen!”
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle
