A July 25 ground blessing marked the beginning of an expansion at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Irwindale.

A new parish educational and pastoral center will be constructed on the grounds, with a target completion date of Easter 2005. The center will include offices for parish ministry leaders, 10 classrooms, 50 additional parking space, a landscaped cruciform courtyard, improved lighting in the parking lots, and additional landscaping.

Once completed, the new building will house educational and pastoral activities that serve more than 1,000 youth at Our Lady of Guadalupe. The existing religious education building will then be renovated and become an adult formation center.

The $2 million-plus center is designed by architect Glenn de Veer of DeVA de Veer Dickson Architecture. General contractor is John Campbell of Hoffman & Associates Building Corp.