The Ponte Vedra Beach parish expects its new child care center to open in August 2027. Its $12 million campaign had $6.2 million in pledges at its last update.
Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Ponte Vedra Beach has broken ground on a new parish building. The groundbreaking was held Friday, Oct. 2, on the parish campus at 545 A1A North.
Updated Nov. 8: The parish’s campaign page says the building’s child care center is expected to open in August 2027. The campaign’s goal is $12 million. Its latest progress chart, posted in July, shows $6.2 million and 540 of the parish’s 3,600 families taking part. Details are in the new section below.
St. Johns County announced the groundbreaking in a news release on Oct. 7. County Commissioner Krista Joseph, who represents District 4, attended for the Board of County Commissioners. The Rev. Andy Blaszkowski, the pastor, and Bishop Erik Pohlmeier of the Diocese of St. Augustine also took part, the county said.
What the building will hold
According to the county’s release, the new building will include:
- a child care center
- a daily chapel
- faith formation classrooms
- meeting rooms for parish ministries
- space for youth and music programs
- new administrative offices
The project is part of the parish’s capital campaign, “Guided by the Star: Building a Future for Faith and Family,” the county said. The release did not give a cost or a completion date.
What the parish says about cost and timing
The parish’s own campaign page fills in what the county release left out.
- Goal: $12 million.
- Raised: $6.2 million, on a progress chart the parish posted in July.
- Families taking part: 540 of 3,600, or 13%, on the same chart.
- Child care center: “expected opening August 2027,” for children from 6 months through 4 years, with year-round care and expanded hours.
The page also lists campus work beyond the new building:
- an outdoor columbarium
- a refresh of the parish hall
- expanded parking
How it got here
The building needed a change to the campus’s planned unit development, the zoning that sets what can be built there. The request, MAJMOD 2026-07, was on the Ponte Vedra Zoning and Adjustment Board’s agenda for Aug. 3. The agenda describes it as a major modification of the Our Lady Star of the Sea PUD, first set by Ordinance 2011-30. It would allow the redevelopment of the administrative building, school, faith formation building and other uses on the church campus.
The parish is more than 50 years old. It was founded in 1972 by more than 70 families, and its church was completed in 1974, according to the Diocese of St. Augustine. The church interior was restored and rededicated in February 2021.
What it means for you
- Construction on A1A North. Expect work on the campus while the building goes up. The parish expects the child care center to open in August 2027.
- Child care. The center is planned for children from 6 months through 4 years. The parish has not published enrollment details. Ask the parish office, 904-285-2698, for updates.
- Zoning records. Development applications in Ponte Vedra Beach go before the Ponte Vedra Zoning and Adjustment Board. See our guide to building permits and zoning.
Ponte Vedra Beach News would welcome photos of the groundbreaking from the parish. Send them to hello@pontevedrabeachnews.com.
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