Print Issue: August 15, 2002

St. Joseph School, Parish Begin $7.9 Million Expansion Project

MARIETTA - Following a June 23 anniversary Mass, representatives of St. Joseph Parish and School broke ground for the largest expansion and renovation project in their 50-year history.

Light rain fell and then ceased as the choir led those gathered in songs of thanksgiving and Archbishop John F. Donoghue blessed the ground. Parish and school representatives as well as the archbishop dug shovels into a patch of earth designated for the ceremony.

On hand were families from the parish and school, along with Charles A. Kraft, school principal, chairpersons of church and school committees instrumental in bringing the building project to fruition, representatives from the archdiocese and local dignitaries.

The $7.9 million building project, designed by CDH Partners, Inc., of Marietta, is intended to preserve the rich history of the parish in the existing architecture. A creative master plan calls for renovation of those structures and much-needed new construction to meet the current and future needs of the parish.

The current Pastoral Ministries Center will be totally renovated into offices for parish staff. Constructed in the 1960s, and initially serving as a convent, the building also houses the parish chapel. A new chapel with a bell tower will be built attached to the church.

Marist Hall, the original church on the property, dating to 1957, will be renovated to include a new parish social hall with an attached kitchen and stage, and will be utilized for church functions and school performances. The hall will host an education room, youth center, Scout room and offices for the parish school of religion.

The existing rectory, a two-story antebellum home, built in 1852, was the original home of John G. Campbell. The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain forced the family to evacuate, and upon their return, they found only the walls standing. Campbell restored the home in 1875, adding a third story.

Currently the rectory houses parish offices on the first floor and the priests' residences on the second and third floors. Following completion of a new rectory, the home will be used for parish meetings and social functions.

A two-level building will be constructed between the sanctuary and Marist Hall to include a music area for the various parish choirs on the upper level and a nursery on the lower level. A glassed corridor running the length of the building will connect the sanctuary to the hall.

The current middle school building and modular buildings will be demolished and replaced with a new two-story building housing a regulation high school-sized gymnasium, cafeteria, nine classrooms, science lab, music room, computer classroom, language lab and art room.

Land adjacent to the school has been purchased. Temporary modular classrooms will be placed on that property for the school and school of religion while the school building is under construction. After construction, the property will be landscaped for use as playing fields and green space for children.

"Upon completion, we will be better able to accommodate the Catholic community of Cobb County and surrounding areas," Kraft said. "In addition, this will provide us the ability to enhance our middle school program both academically and spiritually."

The parish has approximately 2,700 families and is a growing community. School enrollment is close to 500 students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

"We are very excited that we can offer this historic parish, on its 50th anniversary, a true upgrade of our physical plant," said Jaime Lanier, chairman of the facilities planning committee. "This plan should fulfill the St. Joseph Church and School facilities' needs well into the future."