Dallas Priest Secures Papal Blessing for Future Church Project

UPDATE: Father Paolo Capra, a Dallas priest, received a special blessing from Pope Leo XIV for his parish’s future church during a momentous encounter in Istanbul on Friday. This heartfelt request marks a significant step toward building a new place of worship for the St. Augustine congregation, which currently struggles with space limitations.

Standing outside a historic cathedral, Capra clutched a brick inscribed with the words “First stone,” alongside the church’s name and the year 2026. His vision is to construct a larger, more beautiful church that can accommodate the 500 members of his parish, many of whom are low-income immigrants from Mexico. Currently, the existing church on St. Augustine Road is too small to serve its growing congregation.

The ambitious project is estimated to cost $17 million for the first phase, as detailed on the church’s website. Renderings reveal an inspiring design featuring a bright white sanctuary with a green roof and a tower crowned with a cross. The architectural plans include a stunning glass entryway framed by white brick, complete with an anchor-and-cross emblem above the main doors.

During the Pope’s first foreign trip as pontiff, Capra expressed hope that the blessed brick would symbolize the beginning of this long-awaited church project. In an interview with Christopher Lamb, CNN’s Vatican correspondent, Capra stated, “This stone would like to be the first stone of the new church that we want to build in the parish of St. Augustine in Dallas.”

As the crowd eagerly awaited the Pope’s arrival, cheers erupted when he approached the group. Capra raised the brick, and with a wave of his hand, Pope Leo XIV blessed it, much to the excitement of those gathered. The heartfelt moment was punctuated by shouts of “¡Viva el Papa!” as the congregation celebrated their connection to the Holy Father.

This papal blessing not only signifies hope for the future of St. Augustine Church but also highlights the resilience and spirit of its community. With the project gaining momentum, the parish and its supporters are now more determined than ever to turn this vision into reality.

As Father Capra and his parishioners look ahead, they are focused on raising the necessary funds to break ground on their new church. The excitement surrounding the Pope’s blessing has sparked renewed interest and support for the project, which is poised to make a lasting impact on the Pleasant Grove community.

Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story as the St. Augustine Church project progresses.