Lesná is getting a new landmark, the tower of the Church of Mary Restituta

Currently, there is only a spiritual center in Lesná, not a fully-fledged church. However, there are many believers; on Sundays, there are usually three masses in the center so that everyone can fit. The new temple, with 250 seats for sitting and additional standing spaces, aims to be completed by the parish next year. The total costs, including furnishings, are estimated at 100 million crowns, but the parish does not yet know the exact amount.

"All the funds we have collected come from small donors," said parish priest Pavel Hověz today to ČTK. About two-thirds of the needed amount have been gathered so far, and the collection is ongoing.

Architect Marek Štěpán aimed for a simple and readable building with a moderate interior in the project. As a building material, he chose exposed concrete in combination with colorful glazing, considering the housing estate surroundings.

"The church has a circular shape, and the circle has always been a symbol of heaven and heavenly things. At the top of the church, there is a window about 80 meters long that wraps around and casts diffused light inside," described the building Štěpán. The colored window will also be a prominent feature when viewed from the outside.

The church in Lesná has been discussed since the late 1960s. In 2004, as the first step on the path to a fully-fledged temple, the Spiritual Center of Fr. Martin Středa and Blessed Mary Restituta was opened. The new church is being built in close proximity to the center. It will be consecrated to the nun Mary Restituta, a native of nearby Husovice, who was executed by the Nazis in Vienna. The church in Rome is currently considering the canonization of Mary Restituta.

After 1989, 13 new churches and four dozen chapels were established in the Brno diocese, along with a convent of Poor Clares in Soběšice and three spiritual centers.