After 12 months of work, the 600 members of Rooty Hill parish are finally able to worship in their new $3.5 million church complex.
But amid their celebrations, there has also been sorrow for the people at Rooty Hill as one of their wardens, 43-year-old Shane Viglione "” a tireless member of the building committee "” never got to enjoy the finished church, as he died suddenly from aggressive cancer in May.
"Shane always wanted this to be a place where the gospel was heard and 800 people came to his funeral and heard the gospel," says the rector of Rooty Hill, Ray Galea. "So it's been a joyful time but a sad time also."
Mr Galea says that until the new 500-seat auditorium was completed just over a month ago, the 320-strong family service met in the nearby high school because the old, graffiti-covered church was too small. Moving to the finished building has already grown this service by 25 per cent.
"It's been great," Mr Galea says. "Our biggest ministry [at the high school] was hidden in a street where no-one could see it… the sheer physicality of the new building has drawn people's attention and while that initial curiosity will fade, hopefully the momentum will keep continuing and will be able to serve the gospel."
