Peralta — Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Peralta commemorated a significant milestone on Dec. 29 with a ground-breaking ceremony marking the commencement of a transformative project.

Father Emmanuel UC Izuka and parishioners scoop the ceremonial first shovel load of soil at a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Peralta.

The groundbreaking event signals the start of construction for a new parish office, a modern parish hall and a dedicated faith formation complex. This endeavor is a response to the evolving needs of the ever-growing church population, which is currently at 600 families.

Originally built in the 1970s to accommodate 100 people, the initial parish hall housed a main hall, a kitchen, one separate room and restrooms. Over time, several modifications have been made, resulting in multiple rooms and a porch.

Unfortunately, these additions lacked proper foundations and required constant updates to comply with building codes. As a consequence, the size of the main hall was reduced to create office spaces.

A building committee was formed in 2018 to address the need for a comprehensive solution. They estimated the cost of constructing a new parish hall and faith formation complex at $2.2 million. Approval from the Archdiocese in Santa Fe was secured, and fundraising efforts began.

Presently, the church is actively engaged in fundraising activities to fulfill its vision for the new facilities. The ongoing commitment and support of the community are pivotal in realizing this project.

The church is fundraising for a development that will strengthen its presence and outreach for generations to come.

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Jesse Jones | News-Bulletin Staff Writer
505-823-7808 | [email protected]

Jesse Jones lives in Albuquerque with his wife and son. Jesse graduated from of the University of New Mexico twice. This spring, he graduated with a degree in multimedia journalism and, in 2006, he received a bachelor’s degree in university studies with an emphasis in photojournalism. He is a current fellow of the New Mexico Local News Fund.