DIOCESE OF AMARILLO PASTORAL CENTER NEARS COMPLETION

CONSTRUCTION WORK IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED SOON ON THE NEW SINGLE-LEVEL DIOCESAN PASTORAL CENTER FOR THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF AMARILLO.  DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS CHRIS ALBRACHT SAYS IT IS ANTICIPATED THE NEW FACILITY WILL BE IN OPERATION SOON.   THE DIOCESE ENCOMPASSES THE 26 COUNTIES OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE AND THE BUILDING WILL HOUSE ALL MINISTRIES AND PROGRAMS OF THE DIOCESE. THE NEW BUILDING CONTAINS 33-THOUSAND SQUARE FEET OF SPACE, IS BEING ERECTED IN THE 4500 BLOCK OF NE 24^TH AND HAS A PRICE TAG OF SIX MILLION DOLLARS. WHEN COMPLETED A DEDICATION WILL BE SCHEDULED AND THERE WILL BE THREE SEPARATE OPEN HOUSES, ONE FOR THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY AND TWO FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.  THE BUILDING’S THREE WINGS AND MAIN ENTRY ENCIRCLE A CENTRAL, BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED COURTYARD.  THE FACILITY INCLUDES AN EXPANDED ARCHIVE MUSEUM TO SHOWCASE DIOCESAN HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS, TWO FIREPROOFED VAULTS TO PROTECT HISTORICAL SACRAMENTAL RECORDS, A DIVIDABLE MEETING HALL WITH CLASSROOM-STYLE SEATING FOR UP TO 150 PERSONS, CATERING KITCHEN, CHAPEL, BREAK AND CONFERENCE ROOMS, AND HANDICAPPED-ACCESSIBLE RESTROOMS.  THE CENTRAL COURTYARD MAY BE USED TO HOST ACTVITIES INCLUDING SMALL RECEPTIONS.  THE NEW STRUCTURE WILL REPLACE THE AGING, TWO-STORY DIOCESAN PASTORAL CENTER THAT WAS ERECTED IN 1950 AT 1800 NORTH SPRING.  THE NEW FACILITY WILL BE THE FOURTH CHANCERY BUILDING IN THE 90-YEAR HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE.  THE FIRST CHANCERY OFFICE WAS LOCATED AT SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL AT 817 TAYLOR STREET FROM 1929 TO 1937.  IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY MOVED TO 1110 WASHINGTON STREET WHERE IT REMAINED UNTIL 1953 WHEN THE 1800 N SPRING STREET FACILITY BECAME OPERATIONAL.