Breaking ground, from left, are designer of master plan Jonathan Gonzalez, parishioner Rudy Torres, Bishop Michael Mulvey, Pastor Father Richard Libby, and attendee Father Ponnuswamy R. Victor.

All photos by Elizabeth Morales | STC

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Bishop Michael Mulvey blessed the land and location of a new parking lot at the groundbreaking ceremony of Saint Helena of the True Cross of Jesus Parish, located on the southside of Corpus Christi on Sept. 14. 

The parking lot is part of a 10-year plan for the parish. The parish currently has only one entry and exit, so the new parking lot is necessary and exciting for the parish family.

The parish will be expanding their parking lot as the area around it continues to grow. Only four of the 20 acres the parish owns have been developed thus far. Additional goals are to build another parking lot, a parish hall, and a new church building.

On Sept. 14, 2019, exactly one year prior to this groundbreaking ceremony, the parish kicked off their Exaltation Capital Campaign and have raised $85,000 throughout the year to begin building the new lot. 

Father Richard Libby, the pastor of St. Helena of the True Cross of Jesus Parish, wanted the groundbreaking to concur with the campaign's kick-off and the parish's feast day. Sept. 14 is also the date that Saint Helena is believed to have discovered the true relic of the Holy Cross. 

Established in 2004, St. Helena currently has an estimated 220 families registered and has been receiving new families consistently throughout the pandemic. 

Father Libby is thankful to the parishioners who have contributed and to the various departments at the chancery who have assisted and Bishop Mulvey's support. "It all goes back to the people. Sometimes people congratulate me, but I'm not the one who did it. The people have done it," Father Libby said. 

For those interested in giving online, please visit www.sthelenacc.com or send a check addressed to the Exaltation Capital Campaign, St. Helena Catholic Church, 7634 Wooldridge Rd, Corpus Christi, TX 78414.