Members of St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church soon will begin sharing the parish center of the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit.

The two congregations will share the same church building while carrying out separate services and programs, Father John McDonough, pastor, announced.

The Rev. Donald Harrison, rector of St. Dunstan’s, said he hoped that the arrangement would be more than temporary.

Father McDonough said he is optimistic about the arrangement and also has hopes for a joint community ministry as well as a combined program for the teenagers of both churches.

The Episcopal parish, formed two years ago by six families, has grown to about 60 families or 250 members. The group which had been meeting at an elementary school outgrew the facilities.

Until recently, the Catholic parishioners also had been meeting at schools. “We have been in and out of private and public schools ever since our congregation was formed,” said Father McDonough. “It’s not the most ideal situation. I would have been more than delighted if someone had offered to share their facilities with us temporarily.

The arrangement, approved by Episcopal Bishop Randolph Claiborne and Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan, is on a temporary basis. “We will simply share their facilities and stagger our services and activities so that both denominations will have access to the sanctuary, classrooms and recreational facilities,” the Rev. Mr. Harrison said.

Harrison said he hoped that “something more than a rent situation’ will come out of the arrangement.