Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas anoints the new altar with oil at the dedication ceremony for the new multipurpose building at St. Rita in the Desert Catholic Church in Vail.

Photos by David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

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Parishioners packed the new multipurpose building at St. Rita in the Desert Catholic Church in Vail on Sunday to celebrate the new structure.

About 360 people attended a dedication ceremony for the new structure at 13620 E. Colossal Cave Road, which was built to accommodate the rapidly growing parish, said Bill Inman, a member of the parish.

The new building cost $600,000.

"It was very well-attended," he said of the dedication ceremony and Mass, presided over by Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of the Tucson Catholic Diocese.

A full house is nothing new for St. Rita's parishioners — for years, many have had to stand outside during services held next door at the 71-year-old Shrine of Santa Rita, which has a capacity of 105.