St. Mary Church Breaking Holy Ground for Addition

St. Mary Catholic Church is celebrating a milestone Monday with the groundbreaking of its new parish ministry center.

Bishop Thomas G. Doran, Bishop of Rockford, will be at the ceremony scheduled at 2 p.m. April 16 at the church, 10307 Dundee Road. A reception follows in the narthex of the church. Everyone is welcome.

St. Mary’s parish officials unveiled plans for the ministry center last year and recently received approval from the village of Huntley.

The plan calls for a 32,567 square foot addition at the south and southeast side of the original church, built in 2001. The center includes a 600-person parish center, a small chapel, 10 meeting rooms, staff office space and a full service kitchen, according to plans filed with the village.

St. Mary has 5,000 members and needs more space. The new center may be used for youth ministry events, speakers and community groups.