MADISON — All interested persons are invited to a Groundbreaking Ceremony to be held at the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center to celebrate the commencement of construction for the redevelopment project at the center.
Gorman & Company and the Diocese of Madison closed the financing for this project at the end of March and construction has begun.
Ceremony May 1
The groundbreaking ceremony will be held on Friday, May 1. The program will start with Bishop Robert C. Morlino celebrating the daily 12 noon Mass in the O’Connor Center chapel.
After the Mass, Bishop Morlino will unveil and bless the recently uncovered diocesan coat-of-arms in the floor of the main lobby (from the days of Holy Name Seminary).
Redevelopment project
The historic redevelopment of the Bishop O’Connor Center is a mixed-use project, including 53 market-rate residential apartments and commercial space that includes religious use by the Diocese of Madison, Catholic Charities, Catholic Herald, Relevant Radio, and Catholic Mutual.
Msgr. James Bartylla, vicar general of the diocese, said, “The redevelopment project for the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center allows the Diocese of Madison to reduce its occupancy costs as it remains at an historical site that maintains the legacy of Holy Name Seminary and preserves the Catholic identity of a beautiful campus on the west side of Madison that appeals to the community and the neighborhood.
“The project will offer its apartment residents a unique living environment in a historical building renewed with modern improvements and conveniences amidst a stunning park-like landscape with convenient access to the shops and amenities of the west side of Madison.”
The project is expected to take about 14 months to complete.