EFFINGHAM - Members of Sacred Heart Parish will hold a mortgage-burning celebration on Sunday, May 17. An all-parish Mass will be held at 10 in the parish church, with a procession following Mass to the school grounds for the official burning. The 4th Degree Knights of Columbus members and Sacred Heart School band members will lead the procession.
Because of its recent Extreme Makeover Capital Campaign, Sacred Heart Parish has retired its debt, and is holding the mortgage-burning celebration to enable all parishioners to share in the blessing of being debt free, according to parish leaders.
Members of the first graduating class who attended grades K-8 in the new school will serve as greeters and gift bearers during the Mass. Current and former priests will celebrate with the congregation as well. Guest speakers will include some of those who were involved with planning and building the new school nearly 12 years ago.
After the mortgage has been burned, a luncheon for parishioners will be served in the school gymnasium, complete with an exhibit of memorabilia (videos, pictures, yearbooks, etc.) from both the old school, built in 1892, and the new school, built in 1997.
"We are thrilled to have retired our debt, and we want to share the joy with Sacred Heart parishioners," said Father Bob Spriggs, Sacred Heart pastor. "This celebration is not an end to our journey through the Extreme Makeover Capital Campaign; it is a beginning to the future that God has planned for Sacred Heart Parish."