For over eight years, the parishioners of St. Benedict Catholic Church have used a school cafeteria as their facility. That will change in 2010. This week tangible signs of progress were visible off Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant. Trackers and a parade of construction vehicles arrived and began to work on the site of St. Benedict's new permanent church home.

Wando High School students will have a bird's-eye view of the building process, as the church property is located adjacent to the school, off Darrell Creek Trail. Passersby may have noticed trees tied off with brightly colored orange tape, and a newly constructed entrance to the property, established to support the traffic of equipment and labor required to build the new facility.

The new facility is the first phase of a multi-phase St. Benedict Parish building plan that will eventually include other structures and possibly a school, to support the growing parish. Construction is being coordinated by a team of partners: Trident Construction is the General Contractor for the project. LS3P Architects is the Architectural Firm. Thomas and Hutton Company is responsible for civil engineering and land planning. CRG will manage structural, mechanical, plumbing and electrical engineering for the project.

For many St. Benedict parishioners, this is a dream come true. Originally known as East Cooper Catholic Community, St. Benedict Parish was established in May 1999. Founding families held Mass in the Dunes West neighborhood clubhouse each Sunday, before moving over to Cario Middle School.

A unique spirit of 'community' was formed by these founding parishioners - one focused on inclusion and stewardship. All were welcome to join and all were needed to participate. Since then the parish has grown to over 500 families. St. Benedict's Graded Religious Education program currently supports over 200 children. Parish ministries involve hundreds of parishioners. Willing hands and giving hearts are at work seven days a week in the name of St. Benedict. Volunteers set up for every Mass, visit homebound and sick parishioners, teach and mentor youth, build homes for the needy, meet for prayerful fellowship and more.

Currently, St. Benedict holds three weekend Mass services: Saturday evenings at 5 p.m. at All Saints Lutheran Church, and Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. at Cario Middle School. All Sunday Masses also include a "Children's Church" for younger children, ages 4-6, during Mass.

Monsignor Chet Moczydlowski, pastor of St. Benedict Parish, is focused on guiding the parish through a time of change and unprecedented growth, while reinforcing and expanding the "All Are Welcome" philosophy that has been a hallmark of St. Benedict since its inception.

Construction is expected to last through fall.

The parish is hoping to celebrate the first Mass in its new church home before Christmas. Families interested in joining the St. Benedict Catholic Church community are encouraged to contact the parish via phone at 216-0039, e-mail: stbenedictparish@aol.com, or visit their Web site: www.stbenedictparish.org.