It was the first time that many parishioners who packed the church Sunday had seen the inside since a church renovation project began 15 months ago. They found a completely changed sacred space dominated by an 11-foot crucifix, a new altar and ambo (pulpit). The figure of a suffering Christ on the cross and a statue of Our Lady of Grace were created in the Philippines. The wooden cross, formed from a popular tree, was provided by a local resident. 

Watra Church Goods in San Antonio, Fla., built the new altar and ambo; Sauder Manufacturing, headquartered in Archbold, Ohio, provided the new pews.

Concelebrants of the Mass with the pastor, Father Erwin Belgica, included Father Kenneth Malley, St. Scholastica Parish, Lecanto; Father Sojan Punakkattu, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Citrus Springs; Father Jose Glenn Diaz, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Homosassa Springs; Father Theo Weria, St. Cecelia Parish, Clearwater; and retired priests, Father Henry Riffle, Joseph Sobiesiak, Father Michael Lydon and Father Gregory Andrews. Bishop Gregory Parkes of St. Petersburg had planned to lead the concelebrated Mass but postponed his visit to Oct. 20 in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. 

Benedictine missionary Rev. James Hoge of St. Leo’s Abbey in San Antonio, Fla., founded the parish and celebrated its first Mass in October 1964. It was in an ecumenical community center then located at the corner of CR491 and Beverly Hills Boulevard, now home of the Path Rescue Mission.

In his homily and again after, Father Belgica profusely thanked the people of the parish for their participation and support of the renovation. He expressed gratitude to current parishioners and those who had gone before for their stewardship.

“Prudence invites us to examine our lives for what is dear to us and for what we want to achieve for the sake of the Kingdom,” Father Erwin said. “Our vocation is to be good stewards of God’s blessings here on earth. As believers, the sacred and the holy are what is dear to us.”

While the renovation was in progress, parishioners worshipped in a social hall behind the church building.

A most noticeable exterior modification to the church is an overhead cover extending from the front of the church to provide a drive-through for drivers to drop off passengers. Inside are a ‘finished” east wing, family room, new pews, re-designed sanctuary, and new audiovisual system. Image Construction Corp. of New Port Richey, Fla. began construction in July 2023 and completed the work this month. New and additional stained-glass windows are in production by Smiloart in Tarpon Springs, Fla. They are expected to be installed a few at a time over the next 12 months.

Father Belgica welcomes visitors and new parishioners to Our Lady of Grace Church at 6 Roosevelt Blvd. Weekend Masses are at 4 p.m. Saturdays and 8 and 10:30 a.m. in English and 12:30 p.m. in Spanish Sundays. Daily Mass is at 9 a.m. Tuesday through Friday.