Virginia parishioners pitch in to help build new church

Published: 2004-07-09

RICHMOND, Va. (CNS) -- With the official dedication of their new church behind them, a group of parishioners at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Amherst are now concentrating on maintaining the 10 acres of the parish grounds. "The Green Thumb Gang," as the group is called, are actually members of the parish landscaping committee. "We have to weed and do some mulching, just regular maintenance," said John Pelissier. "This building has been the talk of the town," Pelissier said of the new St. Francis of Assisi Church dedicated this spring by retired Bishop Walter F. Sullivan of Richmond. The brick church was built largely through the efforts of a group of eight to 12 retired parishioners who worked five days a week on the construction site. They did whatever was needed to get the building erected. The volunteers were supervised by Bob Vincent, owner of Consolidated Church Services, based in Lynchburg.

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