Sanctuary Renewal

Dear parishioners and friends:

Today, I would like to share with you important news on upcoming work to renew and expand upon the beauty of the interior of our parish church. After a long process of prayer, discernment, and consultation, design plans are ready to be put in place, and we are scheduled to move forward in the coming days.

Last October, in my letter accompanying the Financial Report, I shared that a number of parishioners had requested a refurbishment of the sanctuary to highlight our 230th anniversary, our history as the location of the First National Eucharistic Congress in 1895, and the celebration of the National Eucharistic Revival taking place in the United States this year.

The development of this project has been one of considerable discernment, long preceding my arrival at the parish. I am grateful for all the help, ideas, cautions, and perspectives that have brought us to this moment. With the encouragement of the Finance Council and parishioners, I reached out to a liturgical architect asking him to develop a plan for an update that would respect our parish's architectural patrimony, Eucharistic devotion, and enhance the beauty and dignity of our liturgical celebrations. After conducting research into parish architectural history, meeting with the Archdiocesan Sacred Arts Commission, meeting with the Archdiocesan Facilities Office, and sharing drafts with parish leaders and volunteers along the way (thank you for all who provided feedback and insight during these conversations), we are ready to move forward with our plan.

The upcoming changes to the interior of our church are these:

• We will increase the length of the platform on which the altar sits to make space for the placement of the tabernacle in the center of the sanctuary. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith, so the tabernacle housing our Eucharistic Lord will be visible immediately upon entrance and during prayer in the body of the church.

• The ambo will be raised up six inches, adding a step. We will construct a moveable ramp to accommodate any lector or priest who requires assistance with the additional step. Our ambo is a beautiful piece of our parish's patrimony, so the change will highlight the priceless marble reliefs, as well as provide greater visibility to the back of the church when the word is proclaimed.

• Between October and March 17, a temporary tabernacle will be placed at the back end of the elongated sanctuary. During that time frame, we will await the construction and delivery of a reredos (decorative wall) and tabernacle stand from northern Italy.

• If all goes according to schedule with construction and delivery, the reredos will be installed at the far end of the elongated sanctuary platform immediately after St. Patrick's Day. Marble bas reliefs (artistic renderings of Melchizedek and Moses) and the Bavarian crucifix from our parish's patrimony will be incorporated into the reredos.

• The statue of St. Joseph will be moved to the Shrine where the Blessed Sacrament currently resides. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, recently incorporated the name of St. Joseph to each celebration of the Eucharistic Prayer, so it is fitting that we give him a place of greater honor in the church.

Our contractor recognizes that we are a busy parish, so it is our intention that workers will take a midday break, so that we might continue to offer daily Mass in the church. On the weekend, work will stop so that our liturgical schedule might continue unimpeded. Holy Days and Ash Wednesday will be free of work. Importantly, the church will be clean and presentable during our weekend liturgical celebrations and weddings. The contractor is very experienced working in churches, so we can be assured that the dignity and availability of the space will be respected.

In anticipation of this project, $29,000 has already been donated by a small number of parishioners and donors. Significant contributions have also been pledged. To assist this effort, we are hoping to raise $175,000. I hope you will prayerfully consider being a part of these projects to enhance the beauty of our parish church. I am grateful for the outpouring of generosity and encouragement. Thank you.

I close with a prayer from our patron, St. Patrick: "May the strength of God pilot us, may the wisdom of God instruct us, may the hand of God protect us, may the word of God direct us. Be always ours this day and for evermore."

In Christ,

Fr. Lewis

Pastor