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| Clergy in this groundbreaking ceremony include (l-r): Bishop Taylor, Msgr Oswald, Fr Rubin, and Msgr Friend. |
The diocese announced in August that the house would be located in the former Sisters of Mercy convent at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Little Rock. After further investigation, it was decided that it was more cost effective for the building to be torn down and a new building be erected on the site.
The 6,000-square-foot building will feature a kitchen, meeting room/library, dining room, common area, chapel, 10 student rooms with private baths and apartments for the vocations director, Msgr. Scott Friend, and assistant vocations director, Msgr. Richard Oswald. The initial estimate for the project is $900,000, but that does not include site work, furnishings and architect fees.
Groups have come forward already to sponsor two of the rooms in the house. The state Knights of Columbus council donated $187,000 to sponsor the chapel. Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Hot Springs Village pledged $50,000 toward the dining room. Catholic Extension Society has committed a $100,000 matching grant to the project and will donate $50,000 more if another $200,000 can be raised by Sept. 30.
Demolition on the old convent, which was used until 2009 for religious education classes and offices, will begin this month. Construction is expected to be completed this fall.
In his audio homily to promote the Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal Feb. 4-5, Bishop Anthony B. Taylor said the diocese will borrow the remaining money needed for construction from the Seminarian Endowment Fund and repay it from CASA donations.
Msgr. Friend said he is hopeful the house will raise the profile of diocesan seminarians. Currently, eight men are living in the temporary House of Formation at St. John Center in Little Rock. When they are not attending classes at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock or studying, the men are able to participate in parish and diocesan events and get to know local Catholics, he said.
"It's been a great tool because I have a place (where they can come to discern)," Msgr. Friend said. "I have had three more requests from people. It's really sparked interest because we are here in the diocese. It's been a real positive experience...It builds a sense of community."
Msgr. Friend said the diocese wanted the House of Formation to be based at a parish, and Good Counsel Church was chosen for the site because of its location near UALR and diversity of the parish and neighborhood.
"Good Counsel represents well what the Church is," he said. "We are universal. Catholics are all over the world. This gives the guys the experience of seeing that. I also think there is a benefit to being in that particular area because we need to be mindful of the fact that we are here to serve people. Even though we don't take a vow of poverty, we are called to a simple lifestyle. We want to make sure our surroundings are like that. Having it based in a parish (is good because that is) where we work most of the time as priests."