If you missed the story I wrote about the church and church-related homes planned for unincorporated land just east of Fremont, here it is again. It was a frustrating story because the group wouldn’t tell me much, and since they aren’t registered as a charitable trust, I couldn’t find out much about them.

I did have a very bizarre 0ff-the-record conversation with Thelma (who in some documents spells her name “Phelma”) Orias, the group’s head honcho. Talking to her and others, I got the sense that this church is still along way from getting built. I also get the sense that these people are even more religious than one might expect.

Case in point is a letter the project’s architect, Salvatore Caruso, sent to the county planner responsible for the project. Usually such correspondences are as technical as can be. But Caruso finished this one with a sermon. Here’s what he wrote to the planner:

We ask only that through God’s Grace delivered through your hands that we be allowed to build a place to spread the message of hope, the message of God’s infinite Mercy. That the greater the sinner, the greater God’s mercy will be given to that person. We need only to approach God in our hearts and ask, ask for his Mercy which is Love. This passion of spreading this message of mercy has been brought to us through the work and dedication of Pope John Paul II. We ask for your guidance in achieving our goal.
May God reward you,
Salvatore Caruso A.I.A.