Church Renovation Project & Prayer Garden
Since September 2024 a Future Projects Committee has been planning and working hard to look at different projects that will benefit the future of our parish community. Some of these projects included: Planning for and developing our new youth house, removing the blue/white house from the property and preparing the empty land to be utilized by our community, as well as planning for the renovation of the inside of our church. Our pastoral council, finance council, and staff have also worked hand and hand with our future projects committee during the past projects and with the upcoming renovation project. Fr. Chris has and will continue to update the parish with more information as it becomes available! We are excited to honor the past 50 years of the parish and prepare for the next 50 years through this renovation project!
Future Projects Committee Members:
Kenneth Hausmann, Ronnie Sulik, Stacy Ryza,
Ruth Ann Streiff, Walter Stoever, Jose Pablo Moya,
Mark Hebert, Roxanne Bailey, and Fr. Chris Smith
Projected Timeline: Summer 2026
The Scope of the Church Renovation Project:
Prayer Garden:
It has been far too long that our prayer garden has been laid to rest. It is time to honor the commitments of those who help to create the original prayer garden and to once again have a beautiful space outside of our church. The prayer garden will go near the outdoor crucifix.
New Pews:
Our current pews are lumpy and the kneelers are hard and breaking. This is a beautiful step forward in caring for our sacred space, ensuring that it is both welcoming and comfortable for all who gather here. The new pews will provide a more prayerful and uplifting environment, reflecting the dignity of our celebrations and the reverence we bring to the House of God.
New Lighting:
Many have commented that our church seems dark when one enters the sacred space. Right now we also turn on all of our lights at the breaker box. This important update with new lighting will brighten our worship space, allowing the beauty of our liturgies, artwork, and sacred environment to shine more fully. The new lighting will not only enhance visibility and comfort but also help us lift our hearts and minds more deeply to God in prayer.
New Sound:
Currently our sound is hit or miss. Depending on where you sit in the church, it can be hard to hear. This upgrade will allow everyone to hear the prayers, readings, and music of the liturgy with greater clarity, helping us to participate more fully in our worship together.
New Flooring:
The carpet in the church, though durable, needs a bit of updating. Connecting with the tradition of our Catholic faith and for an ease of maintaining the floor, we hope to put in stone flooring to replace the carpet. This update will not only enhance the beauty and dignity of our worship space but also provide durability and ease of care for years to come.
Mary and Joseph Altars:
Currently the Mary and Joseph side altars seem to get lost in the bland brick wall in the background. With a bit of beautification, we can all these two side altars to be displayed with much more vibrance and visibility in proper respect towards our beloved Saints.
A Crucifix:
The Catholic Church across the world and throughout time has always valued having a crucifix displayed prominently above the altar to remind all who attend the Mass that they are participating in the one sacrifice of the cross that won our salvation. Our hope is to move our beloved resurrection Jesus above the baptismal font in the back of the church, so that as we leave Mass we are reminded to live as a disciple of the resurrection. The crucifix will go above the altar to add intimacy with our crucified Lord and a proper understanding of the Mass.
Beautification of Sacred Space:
There will be some extra items throughout the church that will be suggested for us to make more ornate for the glory of God. One of those items is to put a background and border behind our stations of the cross in order to make them stand out more. Another item is to add a back high altar to the sanctuary in order to bring more focus and awareness to the tabernacle and altar. These projects are being designed by Studio Io.
Unify the Liturgical Space:
The ambo and altar help us to participate in the two parts of the Mass. The Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist; two parts of the one Mass. With an ambo that matches our altar, we will have a greater unity of worship space.
Outdoor Signs:
It is important for our parish/school to be well represented to those who pass by in the community and to welcome our visitors. The 2 new outdoor parish/school signs will be simple, illuminated at night.
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Studio io: Studio io is the Catholic liturgical design company we have contracted with in order to make sure our project is truly beautiful and reflects well our Catholic faith in all aspects. You can visit their website to view some of their past projects by clicking here.
Parish Renovation Town Hall Dates: In the Immaculate Heart Room
- Sunday, September 28th at 6pm
- Wednesday, October 1st at 3pm
- Saturday, October 4th at 6:15pm
