St. Gianna Parish planning Sept. 23-24 for first Masses

The new St. Gianna Parish in St. Charles County will celebrate its first Masses the weekend of Sept. 23 and 24.

The parish earlier received a special-use permit and occupancy permit for a temporary church in a warehouse building in Lake St. Louis. The building is about a mile from the permanent site of the parish.

Since the permits were issued, the parish has been busy converting the building for use as a church. Father Timothy Elliott, pastor of St. Gianna, said besides the area for the church and meeting space, the building has been adapted to include three offices, restrooms, a cry room, confessional and other modifications.

"They’ll be building it to the very last day," he said. Once the building is complete, the pastor, parish secretary and PSR director will come there during office hours.

In another big step for the parish, the Wentzville School District has given approval for the parish to use classrooms at South Middle School for the parish school of religion. The PSR will open Oct. 16.

Father Elliott has been attending neighborhood meetings with parishioners. "It’s very encouraging. There’s a lot of enthusiasm," he said.