Getting Prepped Inside

The stained glass has been removed from the east, west and south windows. This is done to protect them during construction. They have all been crated carefully and they have been numbered, or serialized, to make sure we get them back in the proper location. As you can see from this photo, the plain glass that remains let's in a lot more light! I don't think I've seen the choir loft this bright. In the photo slideshow in the upper right corner of the blog, you can also see evidence of more work happening as we move into Fair Week. More scaffolding has been assembled on the west wall, the parking lot has been ground up for removal (to make digging for the water, electric and foundation easier), and as you will see this weekend as you arrive for Mass, the temporary construction fence has been installed. Myron (the general contractor) has advised that most of the plans are complete, steel is being manufactured, the elevator also is under way. Many of the things we cannot see are moving along and I suspect as we move into July things will get very busy. Thanks for following along.

Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me, for my soul takes refuge in you. Ps. 57:1

St John Vianney in storage

Wednesday morning and it's time for St. John Vianney to move into storage. He'd be in the way, so better to put him away for safe keeping until his new home is ready. The crew was out there this morning in the mist and drizzle, lifting him off his present home and preparing him for storage. With so much work going on, it's finally starting to seem like we're moving along. On the inside, the old air conditioning and heating systems have been removed and you can see piles of 'stuff' accumulating on the edge of the parking lot. The side road is now closed off to traffic and I suppose it is officially a construction site and will be for the coming months. Thanks for following along.

God will send out his loving kindness and his truth. Ps 57:3

Tree Trimming

More work being done, as we move into the week of June 8-12. The front of the building is looking pretty bare behind the statue of St. John Vianney, with one lone tree in this photo. With the glass doors replaced by simple plywood, the canopy over the steps having been removed and now the trees to the east and west sides of the front have been more than pruned, they're GONE! Making way for construction equiment, the parking lot has shrunk by about a third for now. We'll start to feel a bit inconvenienced at times, but with great anticipation of the finished product, I'm sure we'll all manage. Thanks for following along!

No More Canopy!

As we closed out the week of the 6th of June, anticipating graduating our eigth grade students from the Class of `09, we see that there is work being done outside to remove the covering over the steps leading to the old entrance. The doors have been removed for safekeeping and will be reused during the refurbishing. Many thought this was a rather flimsy structure, though the steel proved to be sturdy in deed, requiring cutting torches to get it apart. Scrap metal is all we can anticipate from this part of the 'old' church. Monsignor tells me there are a lot of angry birds out there, so be on the lookout! Thanks for following along!

Empty Building

Stopped by on Monday to see what has been happening over the last two weeks, while I've been gone. We can see that all the pews (including the choir loft) have been removed for refinishing and there is some scaffolding assembled on the entire length of the east wall. This is in place to begin the work of resurfacing or finishing the wall. Studs will be added and drywall will be applied over the studs, creating one long finished wall. In the meantime, on the outside, markings have appeared all over the parking lot for the new water, electric and drainage lines that will be installed. All that will happen prior to laying the foundation and basement for the addition. More details to come. Thanks for following along.

I have put my trust in God, I will not be afraid. Ps. 56:11