Amador County – St. Patrick’s parish and the Diocese of Sacramento announced the close of escrow on the purchase of the former Prospect Motors building and land in Martell, for the use as a future Amador County Catholic Center.

Jeannine Crew, pastoral assistant to Father Tom Seabridge, said the Diocese of Sacramento and three local parishes announced the close of escrow December 11th, and bringing the “Amador Catholic Center one step closer to reality.

A release said the “Diocese of Sacramento and the three local parishes completed the purchase of the former Prospect Motors site,” which “will be turned into a multi-purpose” facility “to support the social and spiritual needs of all three Amador County parishes.”

Kevin Eckery in the release said Sacred Heart of Ione, St. Patrick’s in Jackson and Immaculate Conception in Sutter Creek churches “will continue to have weekday and Sunday masses, but the three parishes will consolidate some social, educational and other activities at the new Amador Catholic Center, including some masses.”

Sacramento Bishop, the Most Reverend Jaime Soto said in the release that “this is the culmination of 10 years of discussion and planning,” adding, “with a declining number of priests we have to find ways to share resources.”

Soto said: “The Amador Catholic Center helps us to meet this challenge. There is a lot more work to do, but this is a very exciting achievement.”

Father Liam MacCarthy has been appointed by Bishop Soto to manage the project and serve as interim pastor of the three parishes. He takes over for Father Tom Seabridge, who on January 1st begins a six-month sabbatical before his next assignment.

The new Catholic Center has been designed by Comstock-Johnson Architects. It will feature worship space with up to 600 seats, a youth center with gymnasium, offices, classrooms, kitchen and a large social hall for parish community events. The plans also envision other spaces and areas designed to provide family-friendly activities for all ages.

Initial renovations are expected to begin in 2011. MacCarthy is the former pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Sutter Creek.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.