UPDATE: In a remarkable moment for the Dallas community, Father Paolo Capra received a blessing from Pope Leo XIV for a new church project during the pontiff’s arrival in Istanbul on November 3, 2023. Capra, representing the St. Augustine Church in Pleasant Grove, held a brick symbolizing the first stone for the ambitious construction of a new sanctuary, aimed to serve the parish’s growing congregation of over 500 members.
The emotional encounter took place outside a cathedral in Istanbul, where Capra stood with his congregation, eagerly awaiting the pope’s arrival. “This stone,” Capra explained to Christopher Lamb, CNN’s Vatican correspondent, “would like to be the first stone of the new church that we want to build in the parish of St. Augustine in Dallas.”
Capra’s commitment to building a “more beautiful” church is crucial for the working-class community, predominantly comprised of low-income immigrants from Mexico. The current church, too small to accommodate its congregation, has set an ambitious fundraising goal of $17 million for the first phase of the project.
Visuals of the planned church reveal a bright, white sanctuary adorned with a green roof and capped with a cross, showcasing an inviting glass entryway framed in white brick. The church’s website displays renderings, allowing supporters to envision the future of their community’s worship space.
As Pope Leo XIV made his way through the crowd, Capra, holding the brick marked with the words “First stone,” “St. Augustine,” and “2026,” expressed hope for the blessing. To thunderous cheers from the gathered crowd, the pope acknowledged Capra’s offering, waving his cross over the brick in a meaningful gesture of support.
“¡Viva el Papa! ¡Viva el Papa!” the congregation shouted, celebrating this significant moment that connects their future hopes with the Vatican.
This visit marks Pope Leo XIV’s first international journey since assuming the papacy, underscoring the importance of his outreach to communities around the world.
With this blessing, the St. Augustine parish is now poised to begin its journey toward a new church that will foster community spirit and support its members for years to come. As the fundraising efforts ramp up, attention turns to how the congregation can mobilize support to reach their ambitious goal.
For updates on this developing story and to support the St. Augustine Church project, stay tuned as we follow the next steps in this inspiring community initiative.
