As the Catholic Church concludes its Christmas season this weekend, the members of St. Ann’s Parish in Peoria and St. Edward’s Parish in Chillicothe will still have much to celebrate as Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, dedicates their new parish halls.

St. Ann’s Parish Center, located behind the church and rectory at 1010 S. Louisa St., will be dedicated after the 4:30 p.m. Mass on Saturday, Jan. 10. Parishioners and guests will have a chance to explore the 9,000-square-foot facility, which includes a large multipurpose room and a full kitchen, at a light reception of cookies and coffee that follows.

The next day, Bishop Jenky will preside at the 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Edward’s Church, 1216 N. Sixth St., and then lead parishioners to the new Sam Longman Parish Hall. Following the dedication of the building, which includes a 4,194-square-foot multipurpose room as well as a catering kitchen and an office for the parish deacons, there will be a potluck luncheon.

Those responsible for guiding the building projects were generous in their thanks and praise for the people who made everything possible.

In Chillicothe that includes the late Sam Longman, who bequeathed the $420,000 necessary to build the parish hall that now bears his name.

Mrs. Longman credited the members of Horan Construction Inc., which designed and built the parish center, for their help, and Deacon Serangeli and parish trustee Jack Desatnick for “getting us off the ground.”

One of the things that the parish centers at St. Edward’s and St. Ann’s have in common is that they are intended to benefit not only the parish community, but the community at large.

“I think for St. Ann’s this means we are still very viable and alive,” said Father Terry Cassidy, pastor. “This assures the diocese of the continuing commitment of this parish to serve the south side.”

Designed by Kenyon and Associates Architects Inc., the parish center was built by Peoria Metro Construction Inc. Funding for the project came from a capital campaign that raised more than $900,000 and the sale of some donated land near Springfield.

“I want to emphasize that it was the parishioners pulling together,” Father Cassidy told The Post. “It was their dream.”