Over 200 parishioners from The Holy Name of Jesus Church in Redlands gathered at the corner of Lugonia Ave. and Dearborn St. on Oct. 14 to celebrate and publicly claim the land for the future home of its new church and school with a sign raising event.
“The beaming sun shining forth on many smiles made for a blessed morning together,” said Father Erik Esparza, Pastor of The Holy Name of Jesus. Fr. Esparza thanked everyone involved and said by next year, with the grace of God, the parish will break ground and begin construction.
Fr. Esparza, Pastor, along with Father Arinze Ezeoke, Parochial Vicar and Deacon Fidel Canovas, led parish and school families in the blessing and revealing of the sign facing Lugonia Avenue (Hwy 38). Afterward, the clergy, Sacred Heart Academy students, and parishioners were able to add their names to the sign, which was later erected near the property entrance on Dearborn St.
The Holy Name of Jesus was established in 2006 with the merging of two parishes in Redlands, Sacred Heart and St. Mary’s, which were established in 1893 and 1938 respectively. Raising the parish and school sign on their 20-acre site is the first step along the journey toward breaking ground and building the First Phase in 2024. The First Phase will include a Parish Hall, Offices, and Youth Center; an outdoor amphitheater and pavilion; and 340 parking spaces. Construction of the Church sanctuary, school, athletic field, and additional parking will be included in future phases.
The new site will expand the parish’s combined acreage from six to 20 acres, increase Church seating to 1,454; including an Adoration Chapel and full-immersion Baptismal Font, seat 470 in the Hall for dinners with a full-service commercial kitchen.
Additionally, the new parish hall will include 13 expandable meeting rooms and a volunteer project room, incorporate a Youth Center with a separate entrance, outdoor patio, four classrooms, and restrooms. The new school campus will increase Sacred Heart Academy’s capacity from 300 to 530 students. The new site will also integrate multiple outdoor gathering spaces, sports and recreational areas, including a soccer field with a running track.
To view a virtual tour of the new site, please visit: www.theholynameofjesus.org/bldg. For information please contact Sharon Callon-Schwartz, Development Coordinator, at the parish office: 909-793-2469.