The much-anticipated St. Luke Church building project is well underway on Hwy. 218 in Mint Hill. The new 21,000-square-foot church will initially seat 750 people, with the capability of being expanded to seat 1,273. (Photo provided by Diocese of Charlotte Properties Office)MINT HILL — As structural steel rises, a church is beginning to take shape, bringing parishioners of St. Luke Church closer to realizing their dream of celebrating Mass in a new, larger space.
The 21,000-square-foot church is being constructed on 30 acres on Highway 218 in Mint Hill.
The faith community got its start in 1987, when Catholics in the area began gathering for Mass in a local movie theater and later a storefront. The current church, dedicated in 1995, was designed to be a general-purpose facility, and its interior is simple, with no pews or kneelers for people to use. It seats 400 people – more than enough for the parish at its start. But more than two decades later, Mint Hill is booming – and so is the parish, comprised of more than 1,500 families today.
In 2019, the parish embarked on a $2.7 million capital campaign to help fund the construction of a new church on 30 acres close to its current location. Since then an open-air pavilion, sports field and rectory have been built on the site – and the building of the new church has been greatly anticipated.
The new church will initially seat 750 people, with the capability of being expanded to seat 1,273.
The total cost for the land, rectory and church construction projects is $13.3 million, of which $6.9 million has been paid so far, diocesan officials reported. The parish plans to sell its current property and conduct future capital campaigns as needed to cover the full cost of developing the new campus, which includes a multipurpose building, administrative building and the church.
“It is amazing that even through the disruption of COVID-19, St. Luke parishioners have once again risen over and above expectations,” said Jim Strauss, Cornerstone Campaign chair. “We are on schedule to raise the $2.7 million Cornerstone Campaign goal in 36 months versus the five-year plan.”
Strauss noted that the participation rate for the Cornerstone Campaign of more than 1,190 families (91.8 percent) is a testament to the dedication of the parishioners who have sacrificed to build a place of worship for everyone.
“I can’t wait for the doors to open on the next chapter for St. Luke,” Strauss said.
St. Luke Church has a history of good stewardship and engagement since the parish was established over 30 years ago, noted Jim Kelley, diocesan development director. The parish has conducted seven successful capital campaigns, he said, as “they have consistently had to address issues of growth over the years. No other parish in the diocese has conducted that many campaigns.”
“St. Luke is a strong parish family that continues to attract more parishioners in the vibrant Mint Hill community,” he said. “This is a very exciting time for their parish community. We are so grateful for all that Father Paul Gary and his parishioners have done.”
Construction of the new church is projected to cost $8.3 million and is anticipated to be finished by January 2023.
ALR Architecture PC is the architect, and Southside Constructors Inc. is the general contractor.
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter