Page 18 - Catholic Extension Magazine Spring 2020

18 INSPIRE

Cover Story

“

“It was so crowded during Mass that layers of
kids were stacked up on everyone’s laps. We

had pyramids of people in all the pews.”

—FATHER EDDIE D’ALMEIDA

A CROWDED CHURCH out the door of the church during
Built in 1907, St. Luke Church Mass, and gatherings had to be
had served Catholics for years held outside.
in Warren. But in the last couple “It was so crowded during Mass
decades, the building was not ade- that layers of kids were stacked up
quate. Not only was it crumbling on everyone’s laps,” said Father
and in need of repair, the 175-seat Eddie D’Almeida, pastor. “We
sanctuary was too small for the had pyramids of people in all the
congregation, which was expand- pews.”
ing. The church had no parking lot The parishioners loved their
or parish hall and only one class- faith community but knew that
room. Parishioners often spilled their old church could not support

Parishioners loved the original St. Luke
Church in Warren, but as their numbers
increased, they were elbow-to-elbow in the
pews every Sunday and dreamed of a larger
church. The old church had served Catholics
for decades, but as the community grew, the
building could not hold them all for Mass, so
many spilled out the front doors during services.