Wake Forest church building $9M facility

Wake Forest, N.C. — A growing Catholic population in the Triangle has a Wake Forest church building a $9 million, 32,000-square-foot facility that's capable of seating nearly 1,500 people.

Father Philip Tighe, of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, says the number of families at his church as grown from 300 in 1997 to approximately 3,000.

The number is indicative of a broader trend.

Frank Morock, communications director with the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh, says that the number of registered Catholics in the Triangle has grown 42 percent in the past 10 years, to more than 200,000 people.

In eastern North Carolina, that number is currently at approximately 500,000.

The reason for the growth, Tighe says, is the number of people moving to the area from the Northeast, as well as a growing Hispanic population.

Church members and private donors have helped raise the money needed to build St. Catherine's new building.

Construction started in June, and members hope to have it open in November.

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I wonder if todays critics admonished the building of a mosque near ground zero?

karbattle1
March 6, 2013 1:31 p.m.

I grew up hardcore Catholic but it is sad to see the church openly advocate for illegal immigration and breaking USA law.

JAFOinWF
March 1, 2013 8:13 a.m.

Grand Union - Your question "Whats positive about the RC church?" I would say the same thing that is positive about any church: Love of God, The Word of God, Fellowship, Peace...

momeeee
February 28, 2013 2:55 p.m.

"Turn each and every church into a political machine.... watch what happens! LOL."

Its already happened....how else you explain some of the inanities of todays GOP?

"That's great. It will be nice to have another positive facility in the area."

Whats positive about the RC church?

Grand Union
February 28, 2013 12:07 p.m.

"superman....ok...you can tax our churches...then we get to tell our members who to vote for in the next election also. today that can't be done without losing that tax exempt status."

In reality the churches already do so.....and when did a church last lose the tax exempt status??? This rise in the catholic church is not due to any increase in religiosity, merely the large rise in Hispanics now living in NC. Its one place where they can meet and feel at home.

Grand Union
February 28, 2013 11:59 a.m.