MASON, Ohio  Church leaders broke ground on a $9 million building project that calls for a new parish and a school expansion.
The project, the fourth in the St. Susanna Parish's 65-year history, will take about 14 months to complete, according to The Journal-News.
"We're building to serve future generations and hopefully to serve anyone in need," said Charlotte McManis, St. Susanna's development director.
Once completed, the church will nearly double its current capacity.
"It will mean we will have a 1,500-seat church that will service the rapidly growing Catholic population in the Mason-West Chester area in a time of fewer priests," McManis said.
The present building will be converted to a convocation center, which will benefit the parish and the school. Long-range plans are to add a second floor with a media center.
