Out with the old at St. Patrick

Tony and Margaret Budell spent Monday morning the same way theyve spent their wedding anniversary for the past 60 years, making their way to the heart of Havelock to visit the church where they exchanged vows.

They werent expecting the scene they encountered this year on the corner of 61st Street and Morrill Avenue. The makeshift fence surrounding St. Patrick Catholic Church, the construction crews, the parishioners spread out on the lawn across the street, like they were waiting for a parade.

The Budells knew at some point the 107-year-old red-brick building was going to come down to make way for a new church next door.

They had no idea it would happen on their special day.

We didnt know they were going to tear it down today, said Margaret, who attended St. Patricks as a child. We came over to take pictures.

Turns out, they joined a growing crowd carrying lawn chairs and spreading out on blankets to watch a crane demolish a piece of their collective history.

Its bittersweet, said the Rev. Troy Schweiger. There are more than 100 years of important memories in that church -- baptisms, confirmations, weddings -- but we also are witnessing a step toward our new spiritual home.

The parish of about 750 families had been talking about building a new church for more than two decades, Schweiger said, but a random inspection by the churchs insurance company four years ago forced the issue.

The insurance company called for an inspection, and a structural engineer said hed certify it as safe for only another five years.

"So the decision was kind of made for us," Schweiger said.

Link:
Out with the old at St. Patrick