Father Michael G. Taylor, pastor, celebrated an outdoor Mass Nov.
9 at the recently cleared site of the new Corpus Christi Catholic Church in
South Riding. The Mass was celebrated on
the future spot of the church’s altar. One of the many large rocks that had
been dug up during the clearing was used as a place marker and centerpiece for
the makeshift altar.
Nearly 300 parishioners braved cold, windy conditions for Mass.
The area of the altar had been raised in a stepped fashion to
emulate the final raised position of the sanctuary. The area of the nave was
also hard packed and flattened with stakes laid out to mark the boundaries of
the actual walls of the future 1,200-seat church. Placards were also placed on
the grounds indicating the locations of where the rectory, parish hall, school
and gym will be located.
Buy photos at catholicherald.smugmug.com.