ARLINGTON — The new Parish Community Center at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Arlington is still a very active construction site, but with a collective crossing of fingers, it will be completed by this November, most likely after the feast of St. Charles on Nov. 4.

The three-level facility will physically join the church with the elementary school. The mezzanine level will serve as a loft overlooking the upper level, which will serve as the school gym with a stage at one end. The main level will connect with the church, and serve as a Fellowship Hall. The building will also house several offices, meeting rooms, bathrooms and social areas. The center will add some 40 seats to the church capacity by reopening the Upper Room on the second level.

Meeting parish needs will be the priority for use of the center, but Father Creedon said it will be made available to the larger community as well, even for wedding receptions.

At a cost of $5.2 million, the center is the fruit of a long fundraising campaign, which began three years ago. Thus far, the parish has met its $2.2 Rooted in Faith Capital Campaign goal, and according to Father Gerry Creedon, pastor, 100 percent of any additionally raised funds will go toward the parish.

Sister Benedict Kesock, O.S.B., principal, jokes that she has waited nearly three decades, and outlasted nine pastors and seen three bishops, all the while hoping that the parish center would come to fruition. Now with the outer walls and roof mostly up, the center is within reach.

Sister said the biggest school need was for the gym. "Even without a gym these kids were champions," she said.

With the fresh new construction adjacent to the aging school building, Sister admits that new windows for the school and convent "are needed badly." She said she is waiting for "dollars from heaven" to help with that.

Father Creedon admitted that improvements to the parking lot and the school are major priorities for the future.

For more information on the parish building campaign call Jane McCarthy at 703/527-5500, ext. 26.