Local Church Helps Another In Dire Need Of Funds

For years, parishioners at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mecca have worshipped inside the walls of a tent-like structure. However, the church’s pastor Rev. Javier Escobar, said come 2015 the permit will expire and the place where thousands come to worship will have to come down.

A new building would cost the congregation, which is made up of farm workers and low-income families, about $3 million — that’s why Sacred Heart Church in Palm Desert made a commitment step in.

“It’d be very difficult for the people of Mecca to gather that much money that quickly to build a new parish, so we feel that we should help,” said Rev. Howard Lincoln, Sacred Heart?s pastor.

Lincoln said he received solid pledges last Monday during a dinner party with a small local group of $1.7 million to fund a permanent Mecca church.

“This is a miracle, this is amazing ? I never expected this kind of generosity,” said Escobar.

The proposed 15,500 square-foot ?mega church? would seat about 1,100 people. Escobar said it would help relieve the overcrowded Sunday masses of 600-700 people each.

“We hope this really helps not just the parish and people of the parish, but helps the community, and helps the surrounding area,” said Lincoln.

Some parishioners said Sacred Heart?s efforts are a sign of hope for Our Lady of Guadalupe.

“A bigger place, a new building, it’d be wonderful,? said a parishioner of Thermal.

Sacred heart said its goal is to raise the vast majority of the $3 million needed to build the new church, with hopes of doing everything it can to collect the rest of the money.

?We?re off to a good start,? said Lincoln.

Both pastors are working to receive the necessary permits from the county to begin building in the desert lot located next to the temporary Our Lady of Guadalupe.