YNN.com

Watertown / Fort Drum

Change region

  64º

You are not signed in  |  Sign in here  |  Help

You're viewing a lite version of ynn.com

Time Warner Cable customers: Sign in with your TWC ID for video access.

Get my TWC ID. | Get TWC service. | Read the FAQ.

Updated 08/07/2012 05:14 PM

Davis College purchases Blessed Sacrament Church

The Blessed Sacrament Church in Johnson City has been sold. Davis College is purchasing the property to make it a part of its campus. Our Melissa Kakareka tells us what the college hopes to do with the property.

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

BROOME COUNTY, N.Y. -- Parishioners at the Blessed Sacrament Church in Johnson City merged with St. Vincent de Paul in Vestal last December after Blessed Sacrament suffered its second flood in five years. Now the church is being put to a new use.

"I think Davis College will certainly benefit from this beautiful complex and I pray it's another 100 years before another flood or that we never get one again," said Reverend Edward Zandy of St. Vincent De Paul-Blessed Sacrament Church.

The college announced that it is in the final stages of purchasing the Blessed Sacrament Church on Monday. Davis College plans to begin renovations and flood mitigation at the building as soon the purchase is finalized.

"The restoration has not taken place yet so we need to do repair work, infrastructure and make the facilities ready for what we are going to be using it for," said Davis College Trustee Jeff Coghlan.

The building will serve a variety of functions. It will be the home of what Davis College is calling the Practical Institute, which will provide things such as on-site and virtual training and certification for churches, students and missionaries as well as apprenticeship opportunities for students. The property will also provide additional classroom space for Davis College students and will be the Chapel for the college.

"The property will enhance opportunities for ministry training, student activities, as well as our chapels that we hold on a regular basis on campus and also provide us an opportunity to provide the students with access to a higher biblical education," said Davis College Board of Trustees Chair Reverend Mike Sanders.

It's a step that will help the college expand its size and its impact.

"We have been here for 112 years and we are looking forward to making Blessed Sacrament Church a part of the campus and we are really looking forward to wonderful days ahead," said Davis College President Dino Pedrone.

And one that gives Blessed Sacrament a whole new purpose.

Davis College is also launching a capital campaign to help with the purchase of the property and its renovations. The goal is to raise $2 million. The purchase price of the church was $900,000.