Catholic school converting to Hindu temple in Pennsylvania

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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A former Roman Catholic school building is reportedly being converted to a Hindu temple in Steelton (Pennsylvania, USA).

Reports suggest that the 24,490 square-feet building complex, which used to house Prince of Peace Parish School in Steelton, has been purchased for $575,000 and it would be turned into BAPS Hindu Temple, where BAPS stands for Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, an international socio-spiritual Hindu organization with its roots in the Vedas.

Meanwhile, distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, applauded efforts of temple-project leaders and the area community to realize this Hindu temple complex.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society and hoped that this temple would focus in this direction. Zed stressed that instead of running after materialism; we should focus on inner search and realization of Self and work towards achieving moksh (liberation), which was the goal of Hinduism.

Catholic school, which fell under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg where Joseph P. McFadden is the Bishop, reportedly closed due to financial reasons and this sale will help the parish finances. Dhanji Mistry is one of the temple project leaders.

Female majority Steelton, incorporated in 1880, on the eastern shore of Susquehanna River, is a borough in Dauphin County. Thomas F. Acri, Jeffery L. Wright and Douglas E. Brown are Mayor, Borough Council President and Borough Secretary respectively of Steelton, whose tagline is “our renaissance continues…”. Prominent people associated with it include decorated Lieutenant General Homer Litzenberg; and football players Marne Intrieri, Bull Behman, Frank Sinkovitz, John Yovicsin and Troy Drayton.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents.