- The Fundraising Committee is devoting most of its energy right now to preparations for our parish campaign. We've just mailed an introduction letter to all registered households (if you don't get a letter, please call the office at 269-3318!). The campaign, Raise the Bells, will be our principal source of funding for our new church.
- The Building Committee has begun an exciting new phase in cooperation with Cram & Ferguson Architects. Ethan Anthony, our principal architect, has visited once to begin program development and will return Monday evening (2-25-13) for another step in our design process. Over the next few months there will be a lot of back-and-forth as we contemplate options and make decisions. Very little is set in stone at this point, but I can share some priorities that are under consideration:
- Use of the surviving St. Joseph's altar... possibly in modified form so that Mass can actually be said on the altar, with the reredos (= the ornamental piece rising up from the altar) behind it.
- A high steeple! Please note, these are expensive. Just something to keep in mind when you're holding that pledge card in a few weeks!
- A covered drop-off at one entrance to the church.
- A connection to the gymnasium.
- A choir loft with additional overflow seating.
- A gathering space (narthex) of substantial size at the main entrance.
- Your ideas are welcome and wanted! We can't do everything that everybody wants, but parishioner input is absolutely making a difference in our decisions. Why not add yours?
- The Diocesan Art and Architecture Committee will be joining us on 2/25 as well. They are delegated by our Bishop to advise and review projects like ours. We'll be working with them closely as the design process unfolds.
A "gathering space"? Isn't that what the parish hall is for? Let's keep our Churches for worshipping God, and leave the hobnobbing and elbow rubbing in the parish hall. Too many people nowadays think the Mass is supposed to be some kind of "entertainment and/or social event" and need to remember that the Church itself, after it is consecrated, is sacred space. It is not for profane (meaning NOT holy or sacred) activities. Spend what money you have on giving God a glorious house of worship.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your suggestion, Fiona. I can clear up a few things for you. The narthex will not be "sacred space," nor is it part of the church proper. Among its functions, in fact, is precisely to help preserve prayerful quiet in the church. By having an indoor secular space for us to greet each other, catch up on the news or whatever, we hope to encourage reverence in the church.
ReplyDeleteAs a pastor I do not relish "shush"-ing people who may have very little opportunity for social contact outside of church. Neither do I appreciate having God's house resound with the chatter of the marketplace, even while some congregants are clearly attempting to pray. The narthex, I'm confident, will actually address the very concerns you seem to care about most.