Rising up from an El Dorado hillside is a building project literally designed for a parish determined to grow in faith together as a family of God.

Under construction since September is phase two of Holy Trinity Parish’s Life Center, a $9.1 million project which includes an education center and multi-purpose social center.

“We have a long history of having family faith formation,” said Msgr. James Kidder, pastor of El Dorado Hill’s Holy Trinity Parish. “My dream is seeing our parish’s classrooms and facilities available for grammar school, high school and college students and senior citizens.”

The project is being financed by parishioner pledges, parish savings and a $5 million loan from the diocese. More than $4.6 million has already been raised by parishioners participating in a fund-raising campaign initiated last year.

Holy Trinity Church, dedicated in 1998, was the first piece in the three-phase Life Center project. Next in line, slated for completion by the end of July in time for the 2003-2004 school year, is the education center. It integrates a new parish elementary school, a library, computer and science labs and administrative offices. The new social center with seating for 500, a stage and kitchen, will be completed by October.

Anticipation for the new centers in a parish that is currently growing at the rate of about a family a day, said Susie Hahn, director of religious education, couldn’t be greater.

“This is a parish that sees faith formation as a parish responsibility,” she said. “It really accepted the idea that at our baptism we’re not only folded into the family of God but actually entrusted with sharing our faith.”

Hahn explained that during the first two weeks of January, 12 new families joined the parish. Religious education for children kindergarten to eighth grade has gone from 175 students two years ago to 600 this coming year. Having an education center designed and furnished to meet multiple needs addressing all aspects of faith formation will provide unlimited opportunities, she said.

“Any classroom can be used by school academic programs Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., by elementary religious education from 4 to 5 p.m. and then for adult religious education,” she said.

Greg McAvoy-Jensen, pastoral associate at Holy Trinity, said that staff members representing various parish ministries already accustomed to working together on a common mission now have the space to do so.

“We’re a very community-oriented parish, a very unified people,” McAvoy-Jensen said.

“There are things we can’t do right now just because there is no time to schedule rooms that will work.”

Marsha Cornelius has been appointed to serve as principal of the parish’s new school, which will begin with a K-6 curriculum, adding grade seven in 2004 and grade eight in 2005. Being an administrator of an elementary school with such a broad focus of faith formation presents “a different paradigm” from typical school environments.

“Coming in you go through a different mindset that is more encompassing,” she said. “It recognizes the threefold ministry we (the church) have as priest, shepherd and teacher.”

Cornelius, who prior to her current assignment served for nine years as principal of St. Joseph School in Sacramento, began work at Holy Trinity Jan. 6. She said from the first day she walked into Mass and met several parishioners, hospitality has been evident.

“There is a spirit of generosity of giving time and talent,” said Cornelius, who has found a deep pool of volunteers only a telephone call away.

A school survey to determine enrollment for students entering grades K-6 next fall went out in September and received 180 responses. Teacher applications are being accepted through February with priority given to applicants who have had prior Catholic school experience. Placement testing for students entering grades three through six in September is March 1.

Cornelius said that the elementary curriculum also includes a transitional kindergarten class for children not yet five years old by Sept. 1 but prior to the end of the school year, and an extended day program.

Steve and Tawny Grossman and their daughters, Amanda, 15, and Justine, 11, have been members of Holy Trinity Parish for the past 10 years. Steve Grossman is a eucharistic minister and member of the parish council and each member of the family is active in some aspect of parish ministry. While they are enthusiastic about the fact that Justine will be attending sixth grade in the new school, it is by participating in Life Center activities that they expect to “grow spiritually as a family.”

“When the school walls come down, we’ll start our family faith formation and adult education. Our children will be able to bring their friends to play basketball in the gym,” Tawny Grossman said. “We’re truly excited about spending time with our Holy Trinity family.”

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