Father Gary Dowsey, pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Parish, celebrated the Mass and reflected in his homily on the importance of this special occasion, emphasizing both the spiritual and communal significance of building a permanent church home. 

“This growing, thriving Catholic community is ready to build a true church home in which to celebrate our faith in its fullness,” he said. “For many years, we have gathered faithfully, but now we are being called to establish something lasting—something that will serve generations to come.”

Currently, Mass is celebrated in a multipurpose building that is also used for ministry activities. The construction of a dedicated church will enhance parish life and allow for ministries to have the space to effectively spread the Catholic faith in the Trinity community and beyond.

“This will enable us to use our existing facility to advance and expand our evangelization, faith formation, youth ministry, and social outreach efforts,” Father Dowsey explained. “Without a proper church building, we are greatly limited in our ability to celebrate the sacraments as the Church prescribes and to educate our parishioners—especially our young families and children—in Catholic worship.”

Father Gary also noted the importance of the new church within the broader community.

“Our church will stand as a visible sign of God’s presence in a very secular environment,” he said. “It will lift hearts and minds toward what is eternal in a world that is often focused only on the temporary. This building will not only serve our parishioners but will also be a beacon of faith and hope for all who pass by.”

The project has been made possible through the support of parishioners, diocesan leadership, the diocesan construction office and the wider Catholic community. Father Dowsey expressed gratitude to Bishop Gregory Parkes for his trust and encouragement throughout the planning process.

“We are ready, willing, and excited to move forward with this historic project,” he said. “We thank Bishop Parkes for his confidence in our parish and for his support as we undertake this journey. With God’s grace, we are confident that this dream will become a reality.”

As construction begins, parishioners look forward to watching their new church take shape in the coming months and spreading the faith to many more in the community.

For more information about St. Peter the Apostle Parish, click here.

To view photos from the event, click on the arrows below.