Onlookers watched Oct. 22 as a shiny new steeple and cross were placed at the top of the new church now being built to replace St. Helena’s current church building. Those in attendance for the topping off ceremony included parishioners, workmen, architect George Hlavenka and contractors from Ron Cantrell Construction, Inc.

A topping off ceremony is usually done when a steeple and cross are placed on the highest part of a new building. Before being raised, the steeple was blessed by St. Helena pastor Father Abel Guerrero-Orta and parochial vicar Father Cyriac Cherkuzhiyil-Kuriakose, MSFS. Inside the cross was a copy of the plans with signatures of the parishioners; inside the steeple were the plans with signatures from the workers, contractors and architect.

Parishioner Marilyn Callahan called the steeple-raising “truly an awesome sight” and noted that those watching “raised their voices in acclamation as the cross was put in place.”

The new church is located on Meadow Stream Lane in Clayton, about a mile away from the present building. Construction is slated to be complete by April 1, 2009.