More than two years after a fire destroyed St. Cecilia Catholic Church, the time has come to rebuild the revered house of worship.

Parishioners will join church and community leaders today at a groundbreaking for an enlarged sanctuary and a rededication of the Oak Cliff landmark's spiritual and social mission.

"Out of a great tragedy comes a great opportunity," said the Rev. Edmundo Paredes, church rector.

The ceremony begins at 4 p.m. at the site of the ravaged church, 1801 W. Davis St., which will become a prayer garden. The event will include an unveiling of architectural renderings of the new sanctuary and a public reception.

Dallas Fire-Rescue investigators concluded that lightning sparked the Aug. 17, 2007, fire that razed all but the church office and rectory.

Worship services were moved to the cafeteria and gymnasium at the church's parochial school nearby. And with the change and limited parking, St. Cecilia lost members, Paredes said.

Still, the congregation numbers about 2,500 mostly Latino families, he said, making it one of the largest in the Dallas diocese. Nine weekend services typically attract about 3,000 worshippers.

And the new 1,000-seat sanctuary, with double the capacity of the previous church, should attract members, he said.

"I'm confident once the new sanctuary is built, they will come," the rector said.

The church will have a brick exterior and a bell tower. Anterooms will complement the sanctuary. A courtyard will link church and school.

Construction will begin within days of the groundbreaking, with completion targeted for fall 2011, Paredes said. The church has raised about $5.5 million for the estimated $7 million project.

St. Cecilia was established in July 1933, with members meeting at the Odd Fellows Hall at Polk Street and Jefferson Boulevard in Oak Cliff. The building on West Davis Street was dedicated in 1949.

Over the years, the church hosted baptisms, quinceañeras, weddings, funerals and other life events. With the larger sanctuary, its presence in the community will grow, Paredes said, along with Oak Cliff's Latino population.

"This is for the next generation," he said. "This is an opportunity to serve more people. We could not have continued in the old church."