Contractors said work inside the Suzanne Pohland Paterno Catholic Student Faith Center along Park Avenue should be complete within the next three weeks.

The expansive 22,000-square-foot facility, which will house a chapel, library, conference rooms and living quarters for several Benedictine monks, has been under construction for nearly two years.

At the groundbreaking service in August 2010, Sue Paterno told 6News that it had taken years of hard work and fundraising to start construction on the faith center, which is right across the street from the border of the University Park campus and just a few blocks away from her family’s home on McKee Street.

“I had doubts at times that we would make it, but if you pray a lot, it will work. God takes care of those who pray to him,” said Paterno. “This is so great for our students. They get homesick; they’ll have a place to go.”

Construction was delayed by winter weather, but work continued in the midst of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal and trial, including the Board of Trustees’ decision to fire head football coach Joe Paterno.

Altoona-Johnstown Diocese Secretary of Communications Tony DeGol told 6News that alumni and members of the community were generous with the campaign, which has nearly raised all $6.5 million for the faith center.

"During difficult times, people turn to their faith more than ever for comfort. It's no secret that it's been a rough few months for Penn State, so I think the timing for this really couldn't be better,” said DeGol. "I think that there's still going to be a lot of tension on campus, a lot of mixed emotions and I think that this faith center for the Catholic community will be a place of refuge.”

DeGol said that one-quarter of the student population at University Park is Catholic and that the faith center will likely open within the first few weeks of the fall semester.