AMERICAN FORK - Father James Blaine, pastor of Saint Peter Catholic Church, has seen his parish grow from about 180 families to 370 during his 17 years in American Fork.
With that growth has come an increased need for CCD classrooms because the number of children has grown about 58 percent in the last two years, he said, adding that the growth has meant the parish will have a confirmation class each year.
"Our classrooms are just bulging at the seams," he said. "We had to put temporary walls in our social hall to accommodate one of our confirmation classes. We have 40-some in just that one class."
To accommodate the growth, St. Peter Parish plans a to construct a 7,000- to 8,000-square-foot building to house eight classrooms, the parish offices, and individual offices for the priest and the director of religious education. The building will be located on property already owned by the parish east of the parking lot.
Father Blaine sent out a mailing to parishioners this week, appealing for building funds. The cost of the project is estimated to be $700,000 to $800,000; the goal for the drive is $500,000 he said.
In addition, the parish is seeking memorials to help pay for needed technology.
He plans to approach the diocese's building commission this spring and to break ground this summer, he said.
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