The new Sacred Heart Parish has officially opened to the public after 15 years in the making. 

The church is located at 144 Fourth Avenue in downtown Strathmore, on the site of the old Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) building. 

Last year, at the official groundbreaking ceremony, Chair of the Sacred Heart Parish Council Tomas Rochford said that this church will offer practical space for the services of the common good in the community and that with the community's enthusiasm and excitement running high, they must remember that they are not at the finish line quite yet.

shpView from the inside of the church during mass. Photo from Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church - Strathmore You Tube.

According to staff with the church, the new building has been highly anticipated for more than a decade.

The idea for the church was presented at a significant invitational event on June 21st, 2016, and the feedback was resoundingly positive.

According to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary, a design subcommittee was established in the fall of 2016. A project charter was developed to engage an architect, and the building was able to be built. 

The church costed a total of $10.4 million to built. 

The new church was unveiled on June 14, and a big mass ceremony was held with Bishop William McGrattan.

For more information about the new Sacred Heart Parish Church, visit its website. 

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