St. Benedict dedicates house

Catholic church also planning a home of its own

St. Benedict Catholic Church parishioners busy ironing out the details of their first church home still took time this year to help a North Charleston woman get her first house.

Parishioners, who have met in Cario Middle School for the last eight years, dedicated a Habitat for Humanity home in a neighborhood near S.C. Highway 41 in Mount Pleasant.

"Our vision was to build our home and at the same time build a home for someone that was in need of a home," said member Maureen Richardson.

Colene Solomon wanted to leave her rough North Charleston neighborhood off Rivers Avenue for daughter Taylor's sake. On her Habitat application, she included police reports from her neighborhood.

The church donated $50,000 toward the home's materials and volunteered on Saturdays, completing the home's construction in August. It was East Cooper Habitat for Humanity's 50th house.

Solomon and her 8-year-old daughter moved in just before Saturday's dedication.

"It's a great milestone for us as we get ready to break ground on our own home," said Maggie Thompson, the church's volunteer communication director.

The congregation also has been collecting donations to build its first church on 54 acres of land that is owned by the Charleston Catholic Diocese near Darrell Creek Trail along U.S. Highway 17.

St. Benedict recently launched a campaign to add 120 new families to its congregation and raise at least $1 million more before breaking ground. St. Benedict has $1.2 million in donations and pledges but needs $2 million before turning the first shovelful of dirt.

Thompson said the diocese master plan includes St. Benedict building its own church because Stella Maris on Sullivan's Island and Christ Our King in Mount Pleasant are bursting at the seams.

St. Benedict brings about 350 people to its weekend mass at 5 p.m. Saturday at All Saints Lutheran Church and 9:30 a.m. Sunday in Cario Middle School's cafeteria.