St. John Vianney Colonia, NJ Prepare the Way

Welcome Home!

2010-08-01T18:14:00.000-04:00

We finally made it! We had our dedication Mass today and what a treat to witness the ceremony and pomp that the Catholic Church can offer. We became 'whole' again today as we welcomed Bishop Paul Bootkoski, former associate Priests of the Parish and some special guests. The day's events began with the Blessing of the Cornerstone. Bishop Bootkoski then began our Celebration of Mass, with prayers of Thanksgiving. At the conclusion of the Liturgy of the Word, Bishop Bootkoski's homily focused on the ceremonial aspects of what we were about to witness. Considering this is only done for new or renovated Churches, it is truly a once in a lifetime experience for most of us.

As we lifted our hearts in song and prayer, the Litany of the Saints drew us closer together and the Bishop began the ritual of annointing the Altar with Holy Chrism, blessed each year at Holy Week. After annointing the Altar, Bishop Bootkoski and Msgr. O'Neill annointed all the pillars of the Church with the same Holy Chrism. To complete the new Altar Blessings, Rose Ragucci and Janice Michnewicz (the wives of our two Deacon's) were tasked with removing the excess Chrism and cleaning the Altar. Next, Mary Jantas and Agnes Bacsik dressed the Altar for the first time. Finally, candles were placed and lit by Deacon Tom and we began the first Celebration of the Eucharist in our new Church.
At the conclusion, Msgr. O'Neill offered us all his thanks for our contributions, support and especially our patience. It has been a long sixteen months since the restoration began and I will be the first (well, maybe not the first) to say it was well worth it. Welcome Home! .. and thanks for following along.

Are we There Yet?

2010-07-25T13:12:00.000-04:00

The fence is down, the pillars are finished and I'm sure we are all very anxious to get back to 'normal'! There were a few minor issues with some of the details of the final inspection, but we'll be in the church this weekend. While most of the work is done, we have a temporary certificate of occupancy as there is still work to be completed. The carpeting in the upper room is the last major item to finish along with treads on the stairs leading to the choir loft. We look forward to wonderful celebration with Bishop Bootkoski next weekend as we consecrate the Sanctuary and Altar. Our final entries to this fifteen month project will be next weekend as we record the celebration and prepare a digital copy of this blog and all the photo's (more than 700 and counting!) Here's hoping you enjoyed following along. It has been a wonderful experience for me.

Final Inspection

2010-07-11T13:03:00.000-04:00

The last required inspection is scheduled for Monday (tomorrow)! Last item to go in is the special flooring in the entrance, which allows for snow removal and rain water drainage before entering the main gathering area. This should be installed Monday morning. Also to be installed is the carpeting in the Upper Room. Remaining work for the windows and columns, then a few days of touch up and such. Myron (UDC) tells me we will be worshipping in our 'NEW' Church next weekend. Just in time for Bishop Bootkoski to join us to Bless our new Sanctuary and Altar on Aug.1st. Appropriate too, since the Feast of St. John Vianney is only a few days hence, on August the 4th. Thanks for following along!

Still More to Finish (but we're almost there!)

2010-07-08T20:54:00.002-04:00

Now that the parish fair has come and gone (and so has my vacation immediately after), we can get back to the business at hand, finishing the project. We were teased a bit in getting to use our new Church for the school graduation, Confirmations and our Year for Priests closing celebration. With that, the crews are now back at work, working all those little details that seem to take forever! This week, the front stairs were completed and we now have railings in place as well. All of the doors have been installed including up on the balconey. Yesterday, the 3 top front windows went into the upper room and today was finally sealing those in place. Once they are completed, the bells will be hung and the front of the Church can be finished. Myron assures me he will be DONE next week, so we should be celebrating on a permanent basis come July 17/18. Thanks for following along!

Finishing the Project

2010-06-09T22:15:00.000-04:00

The next week or two will probably seem like the whole fourteen month project all over again, as we watch and wait for the finish work in the Church be completed. Woodwork being sanded and nailed, kneelers mounted in the choir loft and center aisle, light fixtures and switches, etc, etc.. In the meantime, the brick was completed today as electricians worked to pull wires for the lamp posts out front. Ground was being leveled to prep the parking lot for paving. Now if we could just get those three new windows in the front facade so it can get its finish coat. As with most projects, a lot of 'little things' remain to be done, and we'll get there, just a little while longer. Come and enjoy it this Sunday though, as we'll be celebrating the Eucharist together in our New Church, right after our 2010 Confirmation class welcomes the Holy Spirit into their lives on Friday and Saturday! Thanks for following along!

Closing the Year For Priests

2010-06-09T21:53:00.000-04:00

We were priveledged to host the Diocese of Metuchen in a prayerful and powerful closing to the Year for Priests. The Diocesan Festival and Chamber Choirs led us in prayer in the company of over one hundred priests and seminarians from the Diocese, along with Bishop Bootkoski and Bishop Emeritus Hughes. In this photo, he is thanking the host for the evening, our own Rev. Msgr. Edward M. O'Neill and the homilist for the evening, Rev. Sean A. Broderick, C.S.Sp. from Mary Mother of God Parish in Hillsborough. Father Sean offered his reflections on parish priests, from his very unique perspective of not having been a parish priest for forty of his forty-five ordained years! Bishop Bootkoski then offered his perspective of being a priest in parish life and charged his brother priests to relish their role and SMILE!
I hope the heat of Sunday didn't keep you away on Monday evening, the air conditioning was working just fine by then. Thanks for following along!

It's Ready!

2010-06-05T18:30:00.001-04:00

It's Ready!

2010-06-05T14:24:00.000-04:00

We arrived this morning to find the cleaning crew readying the sanctuary for use! We assisted Gene with distributing missals throughout the pews and managed to snap a few pictures while we were there too! Gene then gave us a private demonstration of the new organ, and does it sound sweet! Masses will be held in our 'NEW' Church this weekend, including the graduation of our eighth graders from SJV School! Access will be limited to the entrance from the school as the main entrance is not ready for traffic. And no sneaking out the back doors after Communion! It will take at least a week to finish all the details of the front entrance area, but it sure beats the gymnasium for celebrating the Eucharist! Thanks for following along..

Down to the Wire!

2010-06-04T22:55:00.000-04:00

June 4th and where to begin? Another very energetic day on the site this morning. Right at the entrance, with earth moving equipment doing what they do to make way for the parking lot. Next up were the guys laying the base for the pavers. As I stepped into the Sanctuary, a lot of the plastic has been removed from items like the Altar and Ambo, so new photos of them... Final pieces of the new windows going in on the west wall. The new organ is installed and unwrapped. Don't know when the sound checks are scheduled for! Woodwork for the trin in the choir loft is going on, with a new railing added to the front of the loft.Tile work in the entrance, stucco work out front and pavers going down. Enjoy the photos. Thanks for following along!

Workers Everywhere!

2010-06-03T20:37:00.000-04:00

From the moment I stepped foot onto the site today, it was clear there is a sense of urgency to get this project completed for this weekend. Roadwork being done on the side of the building, finish work on the facade, electricians, masons, painters, craftsmen everywhere today! It's hard to see the work completed day to day now that I have been here each day, just as it was very easy to see from week to week. But if you look, you can see progress. For example, the electricians outside completed their work for the exterior lighting, the stucco siding is progressing on the front of the building and road work is being done to replace the side access road to the back of the building and the middle school. Inside, more tile has been laid on the entrance floor, paint has been applied to walls and so on. In the Sanctuary, the choir loft is now nearly complete, with the refurbished Trinity stained glass re-installed and framed and a new addition to the area, two new chandeliers to match the main Sanctuary area. New (to us) seating for the Priest/Deacons is being refinished to match the new wood tones of the Altar and the area for the new organ was being cleared for its installation today. Are we really going to be able to do sound checks on Friday or Saturday morning? We'll have to see! Thanks for following along. You are the way, the truth and the life of the world, oh Lord.

Pavers and More

2010-06-02T21:17:00.001-04:00

We're at June 2nd and the trim work we saw from yesterday, in the gathering area, has been completed. Each piece measured to fit its precise location. As I recall, the ceiling in this area will be mirrored and the floor will be carpeted. More tile was completed in the gathering area, in the area near the entrance to the sanctuary and the crying room (see caution tape). In the meantime, I can see that the rest of the sound system speakers have been installed. More work is being done in the choir loft, with pews being completed, the crew from Milan Restorations is now working on replacing the large stained glass window... come Holy Spirit! On the outside, electricians and crews are setting locations for exterior lighting on the property and masons are preparing for work on the pavers. As you can see from the picture, there were three patterns to choose from. We'll see tomorrow which one 'won out'. Not sure who was going to make that call. I prefer the pattern on the bias, but that's just me. I'll stop by again tomorrow to see what got done today. Thanks for following along! Ps 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

We're Getting Closer!

2010-06-01T20:33:00.000-04:00

Well here we are at June 1st and it is looking very promising for finishing up this week. Lot's of activity this morning as I visited the site. I hope to be there every morning this week to capture as much of the finishing work as I can. Today, it was obvious there was work going on over the Memorial Day Weekend. Tile has been laid in the gathering area, painting in the new 'upper room' and a glass display case arrived for our Religious Articles Store! In this first picture you can see some wood finishing work going on. The area they are working on is in the main gathering area and each piece is being fitted and cut for it's location. The upper room has been painted with it's foundation coat, then they will go over the area looking for imperfections. Once repairs are made, the final layer of paint will be applied. The glass display case in the bottom picture is being installed in the Religious Articles Store area, now to the right as you enter the gathering area. Also at the end of that hallway is the new elevator. Coming up later in the week; last of the stained glass, final setting of altar items, sound system and the organ installation (Thursday) Thanks for following along! Ps.145:8 The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great loving kindness.

We Just Might Make It!

2010-05-28T21:15:00.000-04:00

The race to finish in time for a flurry of activities in the month of June is on! With SJV School Graduation on the 6th, the Year of the Priest closing prayer service on the 7th and Confirmations on the 11th and 12th, it looks like we just might make it! Finishing touches on the crying room, meeting rooms and bathrooms downstairs are looking good. Painting and plumbing was happening all day on the inside and the parking lot area is being prepared for finishing. The ramp access work is continuing and the front outside gathering area is being prepped for pavers. This weekend should bring about final touches in the choir loft for pews and the new stained glass windows in the sanctuary. In addition, the main gathering area inside is expected to have its tile laid in place. Thanks for following along! Ps 136:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures for ever.

Mad Dash to the Finish!

2010-05-26T20:02:00.000-04:00

Since the last post on Friday, there has been a flurry of activity inside and out to race to the finish line at the end of the month. Speakers installed, kneelers, hymnal holders, doors and woodwork all going on seemingly simutaneously on the inside. Outside, the entrance is transforming, the ramp is being completed and the brick entrance way is being prepared. In addition the final face on the front of the church is being readied for its final finish. Today, they were making final adjustments to the elevator, trimwork and prepping floors for tile. Stand back and see if we can make it!

Sleeping on the Job?

2010-05-21T22:03:00.000-04:00

Not exactly... it's part of the pew installation, actually the kneelers, in this case. Most of the pews have been installed and bolted to the floor and kneeler installation is the next to last part to be completed. They're aluminum and light weight, so less noise. We'll all have to get used to that wonderful Catholic tradition of kneeling again! Last up will be the new holders for the missals and hymnals. A lot of other activity continues inside, with priming and painting, doors being hung and stained. More work remains in the choir loft and new addition upstairs. Ten days to go until the end of the month. Let's see if we can make it to the finish line. Thanks for following along! Ps. 127:1 Unless Yahweh builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.

Curbing and Painting

2010-05-19T20:11:00.000-04:00

Concrete and curbing work on the outside, painting on the inside along with pew installation. We're at the 19th and there are 12 days left to the end of the month. I took a trip down into the basement today and I was amazed at how much storage space there will be. I actually lost my bearings at one point and stumbled upon a small door beneath one of the new stairways. I'm going to have to ask what that one is for! The latest pictures are included in the slideshow. Thanks for following along!

Ps. 126:5 Those who sow in tears will reap in joy. (JF Garden Prayer)

Pew Installation

2010-05-17T20:09:00.000-04:00

More work in the santuary going on this week. Workers continue to assemble the pews and formal installation will begin in a day or two. They will be assembled first, installed, then the new kneelers will be installed. New missal and hymnal holders will be the last item to go in place. The new box windows will be installed next week and that should complete the interior, with some touch-up and finish work to be completed. The interior entrance doors are being re-finished to match the walls and pews and should also be installed next week. Over this past weekend, a lot of painting was going on, with most of the lower level rooms of the addition having been completed. Doors are hung in frames and have been installed in some openings. I am beginning to think we just might make it! Thanks for following along! Ps. 118:1 Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.

Our New Symbol

2010-05-17T19:57:00.000-04:00

Our latest addition to the exterior, a shining beacon! The new cross on the Church is, in fact, made of copper. While it is not the high finish we can see on the new water channels at the roof line, it has been etched to reduce the shine on purpose. Each of the copper finishes we see up on the roof will oxidize in time, but what a beautiful sight! In this photo, we can see workers making the finishing touches to the installation that happened on Friday. Hope you got to see it over the weekend!

Workers Everywhere!

2010-05-15T09:14:00.000-04:00

With this last visit, I sensed more activity than on any other. From the moment I arrived, with two workers on the upper roof preparing to install our Cross, to the men on stilts flying around the choir loft and new meeting room upstairs applying the mud to joints and screwheads, to the men re-joining the sections of pews. In addition there was activity out front, prepping some areas for the new curbing to take shape. We are at May 15th, the Feast of St. Isidore the farmer, halfway through the month... will we make it to the finish line?

Drywall and Sanding

2010-05-10T18:01:00.000-04:00

Drywall is going up quickly since last week. Most of the first floor is completed and getting ready for painting and ceiling installation. The elevator is installed, minus all the finish work, of course. More drywall is being installed upstairs this week in the choir loft and the new, large meeting room. Also, more of the refinished pews are now on site, awaiting final installation. Some more air conditioning work to be done and then some final stained glass to go in and the sanctuary will be complete. It's a race to the end of the month!
Thanks for following along. Ps. 111:4 The Lord is gracious and merciful.

Drywall Going Up

2010-05-06T21:59:00.000-04:00

And of course along with that drywall comes the dust created when the sanding occurs. Plastic sheeting is up to try and minimize the impact. The gathering area in the addition was first to be done, with the upper room next in line. The elevator is coming along and looks like it will be completed soon. More work for electrical and fire alarms will need to be done on that after the installation is completed. It's the 6th of May, so we have 25 days left to the end of May target! Thanks for following along. Ps. 106:1 Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever.

New Slideshow

2010-04-30T16:05:00.000-04:00

I have added a second slideshow to the front page. The upper one is now a 'time lapse' version, from one spot in the church, so you can see how the progress of rebuilding has evolved. The beginning is from Palm Sunday 2009, in the evening, with Mr. Borkas at the organ readying himself for choir rehearsal. The show runs in order succession through (as I write this) a photo from today (4/30/10) with the carpet being added. The bottom slideshow is compiled of a lot of pictures I've taken (but not all) over these 12 plus months. I hope you enjoy! Thanks for following along.

You Want Me to Go Where?

2010-04-30T15:03:00.002-04:00

While on the site today, Myron asked me if I would like to go up to the roof and get some pictures. It crossed my mind to mention my fear of heights, but then I thought better of that, and so.. what the heck, I'll probably never get another chance, so... up I went. He didn't tell me "ON" the ROOF! I got some shots of the roof work going on, the air conditioning units and such. Got a great shot of the school too!

What a Difference a Few Days Can Make

2010-04-30T14:36:00.000-04:00

If you remember back to one of my last posts, a suggestion was made that the floor was being prepped for carpeting, but that it would be a week or two until after the drywall went up. Well... what a difference a few days makes! Tha carpet is in! The red is the aisle areas and the brown is where the pews will be. Speaking of pews, a couple have been returned and can be seen in the very front of the church, up by the altar area. We're in an un-official countdown at this point as we have the 'end of May' to look forward to. So we have 31 days to go!

New Chandeliers

2010-04-27T22:16:00.000-04:00

As we can see from this photo, we have light! The refurbished chandeliers have been installed and they make a big difference in brightening the space. I don't have the details, but I'm told they now operate at a much higher efficiency than the previous version. In addition, you can see they are now suspended by chain rather than a solid rod. An artisitic cross band has been added to each element, as well. Also seen in the upper photo, the floor has all been prepped and leveled in anticipation of carpeting being installed. That will have to wait until the drywalling is completed in the new section of the building first. That way cleanup will be much easier. As you may have heard at Mass over the weekend, Monsignor has been given an estimated completion of the end of May. Just in time to celebrate the closing of the Year of the Priest with the Bishop and his brother priests at the beginning of June! Thanks for following along! Ps. 105:3 Glory in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

The Corner Stone (Part II)

2010-04-27T21:46:00.000-04:00

The original cornerstone from the Church (1962) has been reset in its new location, on the left side of the entrance. Since the building is having the addition, there will now be two cornerstones, with the new one yet to be placed (2009). This one will coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the parish and the beginning of the remodeling efforts. The new one will have 'access' to the storage vessel from the inside of the building. I say access, but that just means making holes in a drywall layer to get access to it, rather than having to remove the actual stone. The school is working on items to be locked away for another fifty years. The items chosen will be added to the items that were originally found when we opened it late last year (see the previous cornerstone post). I will be adding a digital (if you're reading this, then it's also digital) version of this weblog, along with all the pictures taken, to a DVD that will also be stored in the vessel. Here's hoping those in the future will still be able to access them.

Steeple Work

2010-04-24T13:30:00.002-04:00

During the 'after 5k' I managed to snap this off, work going on outside, our new steeple in the works.

Kyle crosses the line!

2010-04-24T13:27:00.001-04:00

In his first attempt at a 5k, my son Kyle sets a respectable mark.

My Finish

2010-04-24T13:24:00.002-04:00

Had to run back to snap this one after my finish. Better than last year!

The Start

2010-04-24T13:19:00.003-04:00

The start of the Chris Jantas Fun Run 2010 at SJV.

The Mud has arrived!

2010-04-24T07:40:00.000-04:00

Well, the 'mud' for the walls, that is. Found a stash of the spackle that will be used, once the drywall goes up. This certainly signals we're getting closer. I'll keep an eye out for that drywall delivery. In the meantime, the Church lights have been refurbished and were delivered on Friday. Myron (UDC) tells me they'll be working on re-installing them beginning this weekend.

Bronze Glass

2010-04-21T21:14:00.003-04:00

Part of the happenings over the weekend and Monday was the installation of some of the new windows in the new section of the building. Upper level windows can now be seen from the outside, as well as windows in the stairwells and the new Boardroom on the first floor. This is a view of the upper level multi-purpose room in its raw state. The arches are awsome! Finish work is being done on the soffett on the east side of the room. Almost ready for sheet rock! Thanks for following along.

Making Way

2010-04-21T21:09:00.004-04:00

With all the activity going on, of late, I felt compelled to drop in again, on Tuesday, to make sure I didn't miss anything. A good deal of the wood and other supplies that had been piling up on the sanctuary floor have been removed, making way for being able to prepare the flooring for the new carpeting. Some filling and gluing and sealing will need to occur to make sure the tiles will stay in place under that carpeting. Most of the ventilation has been installed too.

New Arrival

2010-04-17T12:29:00.005-04:00

More supplies arrive each day, to be sure, but Wednesday there was a significant amount of activity for some steel beams and our new elevator. Though from the pictures it's hard to tell that it is, in fact, an elevator, it's nice to see progress being made. Myron (UDC) tells me they expect to install this over the next two weeks. Up in the new section of the building, more box building is going on for the soffets up at the roof line. These will contain lighting, electrical and ventilation. Myron also tells me they expect to start installing some of the glass up there this weekend, so those square sections you can see at the top of the right picture should have some glass in them during next weeks visit. Thanks for following along.

Ps. 96:2 Sing to the Lord and bless His name. Proclaim his salvation from day to day!

More Transformation

2010-04-17T12:12:00.004-04:00

While we saw last week that our Jesus had undergone some significant transformation on the Crucifix, Mary too, has undergone some of her own transformation. As we can see in the 'before' photo on the left, Mary had been wearing a pair of shoes, a bit more modern than the women of Jerusalem would have found in their time. The artisans at Milan Restoration had told me they were going to remedy that when I met with them several weeks ago. Here, on the right, is the finished work. Now, she looks more like we would expect her to. Her prominent new location in the Church (where the Tabernacle used to reside) should give all of us a chance to see her up close and offer up our prayers and intentions to her. Thanks for following along.

Stained Glass

2010-04-17T12:04:00.006-04:00

The final section of the east wall stained glass went back into place on Friday. Workers lifted the piece depicting the Eucharist into its former location and secured it. They seemed to lift it effortlessly, while I observed from the floor. I then went up to the choir loft to get a closer look as they were fitting the final piece of the frame that holds it in place. Quite a few people on the site today, inside and out. Thanks for following along.

Transformation!

2010-04-10T13:23:00.010-04:00

In the week since Good Friday, we can see a transformation has occurred on the inside. Our Jesus on the Crucifix has taken on a new form, shall we say? While not from the same point of view, we can clearly see the artisans from Milan Restorations have given us a 'new' Jesus. The pictures do not do it justice, it is truly stunning to see in person. A lot of work was going on inside Friday, with several men sanding the wood to be used for the altar flooring area, in preparation for final staining. We also have the elevator area being readied, as that is supposed to arrive late next week. Many things will be going on over the next few weeks in anticipation of completion of the project, walls to be finished in the new gathering area and upstairs space, new carpeting, pews being returned, etc... We have a target date for June 7th, to welcome the Bishop and the priests of the Diocese for the close of the Year for Priests. Let's hope we can be completed in time! Thanks for following along. Ps. 89:58 Blessed be God forever!

Letters to God – Christians Should Vote with their Wallets

2010-04-09T10:58:00.001-04:00

Letters to God – Christians Should Vote with their Wallets

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Catholics Announce EncouragePriests.org!

2010-04-04T08:24:00.001-04:00

Catholics Announce EncouragePriests.org!

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Good Friday Reflections

2010-04-02T12:25:00.005-04:00

I took a few moments to go inside today and one of the pictures has jumped out at me, so I thought I would share it and a few others. The rear window (the Holy Spirit behind the choir loft) has some interesting details that have never presented themselves to me. I thought their revalation today was striking, given this Holy Week. See the three crosses in the window? Also, up behind the Altar and Crucifix, Milan Restorations has left their calling card. Perhaps in another fifty years when the next renovation is going on, people will find this mark and look back on our time of restoration. Thanks for following along.

God did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for the sake of us all.

Places Everyone!

2010-03-28T22:13:00.003-04:00

These last five weeks of Lent have been very special for a group of young people from the parishes of St. John Vianney and St. Cecelia in Colonia and Iselin. For three hours each Sunday evening, they have gathered together to prepare the way of the Cross, as in The Living Stations of The Cross. This year will be the 16th annual portrayal of the Stations by the youth group of the two parishes, under the direction of Richard Valente, with costume design by Maria Valente. It has also been special for me to participate in a small way, but mainly to witness their love of the Lord, giving of themselves, so that others may share in the experience on Good Friday. Please, won't you join us on Friday April 2nd at 7:00pm? Be a part of this moving experience.

Tile Appears

2010-03-28T16:49:00.008-04:00

As we can see from the pictures here, work continues in the new gathering area, as walls are being completed (see the carpenter cutting the metal wall studs). Also on the inside, a good portion of the marble floor is now in place on the altar platforms. Perhaps spring will allow for accelerated work outside (more sun, less rain) and maybe we can see the church finished sometime in April (my schedule, not the contractors!). Enjoy the new photos. Next up, some behind the scenes photos from "The Living Stations of The Cross". Thanks for following along.

Plumbing, Electricians and Masons, oh my!

2010-03-18T20:11:00.010-04:00

It's difficult to see the progress being made right now. As you see in the slideshow, much of the Sanctuary work is completed, with mainly the floors and some finishing required. Most of the work we see this week is in the new construction area, namely plumbers and electricians. Unfortunately, most of their fine work will be hidden from view when all is completed! Do we give them enough credit for their work? In the meantime, masons continue to work on the facade and it looks like they are getting ready to start the final work on the exterior walls, as we see scaffolding appear on the east side of the building. It won't be long now before we see sheet rock going up in the new gathering area and the rest of the exterior start to take shape. I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks for following along. Teach me your way Lord, I will walk in Your truth. Ps. 86:11

New Windows & Stations

2010-03-03T10:57:00.006-05:00

Got a chance to get inside again today. Work continues on the new construction area on the inside. with floors in place and walls up all over the new gathering area. In the Sanctuary, many of the stained-glass windows have been re-installed on both the east and west walls. We also have our new Stations of The Cross in place. They are spectacular! The finish work continues on the walls and other woodwork and the boxes for the faux windows are now installed. Next should be lighting and then the glass. Thanks for following along.

Ps:81:1 Sing aloud to God, our Strength. Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob!

Working in the cold!

2010-02-15T09:21:00.008-05:00

Hard to notice that anything is going on from the outside, but wait until you see the inside! I got to spend some time today with Marco from Milan Restorations and got to see some of their craftsmanship really starting to take shape. From the fully restored upper altar and Crucifix areas (reredos) to the placement of the Tabernacle in the wall below the Crucifix.

Over the years, the Church has designated no official location for the Tabernacle, only that it must have a place of prominence and reverence. Many churches opted to move them off to the side (as we did), giving the people a place to stop and spend some time more directly with the Blessed Sacrament. This is changing somewhat and the location of the Tabernacle for our Church has been reestablished as being the center of our attention. Much of the woodwork is complete, including the ceiling areas where they had to box in the sprinler systems. A combination of light and dark stains is very appealing to the eye and had me looking everywhere for the details.

The ambo in this picture is being refinished and the flame on the front will be highlighted to stand out better against the stain. By the way, that's not it's final position. Not seen in this photo, our original altar that we have seen removed from our weekely Mass celebrations is being prepped for refinishing. Based on Marco's description of the work , we won't recognize it once it's done.

Thanks for following along. Blessed be His glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory! Ps. 72:19

Things are moving along!

2010-01-23T16:30:00.004-05:00

With steel going up, things seem to be moving along again. Watching those steelworkers climb along those beams as the crane hoisted them into place, I could have stood there all day! The second story and bell tower frames are now up and floor frames are almost completed too. So steel is in place and forms have been poured for the main stairway entrance. On the inside, wood work continues on the walls and duct work moves along as well. Color choices for the reredos will need to be made soon. There are samples painted on the walls so we can see how they look. We also see some of the refurbished stained glass reinstalled in the northeast wall windows. Maybe we should wait to pick the colors when the light from the windows is back to normal. Right now, there is still a lot of diffused white light coming into the santuary that won't be there once all the stained glass is back in place. New pictures are in the slide show. Thanks for following along!

My lips shall shout with joy! My soul, which You have redeemed, sings praises to you. Ps. 71:23

Steel!

2009-12-30T20:33:00.009-05:00

In case you have not been by the site since Christmas, the steel has finally arrived! Monday, all day, there was a large crane (did not have my camera with me!) unloading, lifting and placing the steel beams for the infrastructure of the addition to the Church. The steel beams are the main support structure for the new gathering area on the first floor as well as the meeting space on the second floor. It also is the main support for the new steeple which should soon be appearing. Somewhere in the slide show is the artists concept for what the Church could look like. The beams in place now let concrete and block work continue. Thanks for following along!

Ps. 66:20 Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayers, nor his loving kindness from me.

Working Indoors

2009-12-21T14:14:00.005-05:00

The first storm of the winter season will slow things down a bit on the outside. As we see on the inside, though, things are moving along at a good pace. In this photo, you can see workers making progress on the reredos on either side of the Crucifix. Color 'swatches' can be seen on the right side. The wood on the east and west walls is complete, though there is some finish work to do for trimming out the stained glass windows. Duct work is still a work in progress. Thanks for following along. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whomever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Merry Christmas!

Obscured From View

2009-12-13T17:01:00.003-05:00

As work continues into December, we see a new face taking shape on the front of our Church. While early estimates were to have the project done by Christmas, we remain hopeful the later estimate of Easter will hold true. With the foundation complete, backfilling has been done and the large mound of dirt in the parking lot is shrinking. You can begin to get a feel for how the entrance will look. On the inside, the fresh smell of hardwood is in the air as work continues on the walls as new wood is added to reach up to the stained glass windows and new details can be seen at the base of the support arches that reach across the ceiling. Also inside, the sprinklers are being boxed in and the reredos (rear walls behind the altar) are being started. New photo's continue to be added to the slideshow, so spend a few moments to see what's happening! Thanks for following along. Ps 63:4 So I will bless you while I live. I will lift up my hands in your name.

Manhattan Declaration

2009-12-03T15:03:00.003-05:00

While this blog is not intended for editorial purposes, I would ask those of you who are following along to please read the Manhatten Declaration, a call of Christian Conscience at the link below.

Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of civil society, beginning with the family.
We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. These truths are:

1.the sanctity of human life
2.the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife
3.the rights of conscience and religious liberty.

Inasmuch as these truths are foundational to human dignity and the well-being of society, they are inviolable and non-negotiable. Because they are increasingly under assault from powerful forces in our culture, we are compelled today to speak out forcefully in their defense, and to commit ourselves to honoring them fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them. We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

http://manhattandeclaration.org

2009-11-26T20:22:00.005-05:00

Work continues on the interior, with multiple levels now in place for the framing of the Altar risers. The new layout will have the altar one step lower than the previous layout and it will be situated closer to the pews. This will leave room to the front (below the Crucifix) for the repostitioning of the Tabernacle. It will stand atop the highest step at the base of the Crucufix. Other work moving along inside is the ductwork for the new air conditioning and heating system as can be seen in the new pictures in the slideshow. Thanks for following along.

Sanctuary Platform

2009-11-19T21:02:00.004-05:00

The inside of the Church is undergoing many changes that are unseen by most of us. Clearly this will be a very different look once we get to worship inside our 'not so usual' space. As we can see from the outside (new photos in slideshow), much progress is being made to add on to the building and create new space. On the inside, walls are now in place and sanded, awaiting final finishing. And speaking of finishing, the ceiling has been sanded and re-coated and looks just great. The plumbing has still to be boxed in, but the ceiling and support beams have a fresh new coat of urethane on them. As you can see from this photo, the main Sanctuary is now the focus of attention as the new altar platform is being constructed. Leveling such a large area is painstaking work, but the crew was working to get it just right! Thanks for following along. Ps 62:1 My soul rests in the Lord.

Stained Glass

2009-10-16T12:08:00.005-04:00

After the stained glass had been removed from all the windows, (recall an earlier post describing numbering and marking all the pieces and boxes) they were shipped to a company in Manhattan for refitting and restoration. There the pieces are cleaned are reassembled with new lead taking up the spaces between the pieces of glass.

Pew Refinishing

2009-10-16T12:07:00.004-04:00

Refinishing continues at one of the warehouse locations of Milan Restorations. They have taken the pews, serialized to mark their location in the Church, and stripped off fifty years of wear and tear. Chemical stripping to remove the existing finish, the pews are then washed and prepped for sanding. This sanding operation will remove any residual finish not removed by the chemical process. It also puts a smooth surface back on the wood to prepare it for staining and finishing. It's as if they were made from scratch! Hard to believe these are fifty years old. In this picture, you can see some of the pews that have not been stripped in the background, showing us the original color, with those in the foreground going through the chemical process. More of the cleaned and sanded ones can be seen in the slideshow. Thanks for following along! Ps 56:4 In God I put my trust.

The Corner Stone

2009-10-14T20:57:00.007-04:00

The Corner Stone! October 14th... as I described in an earlier post, the 1962 cornerstone was removed from the front exterior wall to the right of doors at the main entrance. The cornerstone (or foundation stone) concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.
Over time a cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry stone, or replica, set in a prominent location on the outside of a building, with an inscription on the stone indicating the construction dates of the building and perhaps the names of the architect, builder and other significant individuals. The rite of laying a cornerstone is an important cultural component of western architecture and metaphorically in sacred architecture generally. (Wikipedia) hhmm.
Some cornerstones include time capsules from the time a particular building was built. The origins of this tradition are vague but its presence in Judeo - Christian countries can be associated with one quotation from the Old Testament, in Psalm 118, verse 22, 23; The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner. This is Yahweh’s doing.
It is marvelous in our eyes.
Behind our cornerstone was in fact a time capsule or archive with artifacts from the time of the original building in August 1962! I got a chance to review the contents and some of the photo's should appear in the slideshow. Inside was a letter, written in Latin, more as a prayer, signifying the Pope (John XXIII), Bishop (George G. Ahr S.T.D.), President of the United States (John F. Kennedy), Governor of NJ (Richard Hughes) and other notable persons. The date was August 19, 1962! (I was five, then) As I recall, (and as his signature attests) his middle initial was 'W', not 'G' as typewritten in the document. In any event, it was signed by a number of people we assume were parishioners and were involved in the early formation of the parish. Also in the archive vessel, a newspaper from the 'Newark Evening News' from August 18, 1962; a copy of 'The Monitor' from August 17, 1962 and a series of 1962 coins (Dollar to Penny) with several denominations still in silver! We'll have to give some thought to what to include in the capsule as we seal it up for 2010!
Thanks for following along. This is the day the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad! Ps.118:24

Sheet Rock!

2009-10-14T20:44:00.003-04:00

October 13th... and boy does this look different! I've been away a couple weeks and look what has happened! We've gone from a darkened room full of wood to much more light coloring. Of course some of that is due to the stained glass being gone too! And speaking of light, LOOK, all the chandeliers have been removed for restoration! There are some temporary lights in place for the crew, but there is a lot of natural light coming through and bouncing off those walls. I've heard stories of the carpenters walking around on stilts while doing their work on the walls, but have not been there to capture them digitally (photo's). The final pieces of the organ sound system have been removed and I got a chance to get up in the 'attic' area above the sacristy. They are making room for new HVAC venting and I took a few shots from up there in the 'hole' in the front wall of this photo. See the slide show for some of those photos. Thanks for following along! God is our refuge and our strength. Ps. 46:1

foundation, framing, pew finishing

2009-10-14T20:16:00.005-04:00

September 25 has continuing work on the foundation out front. Included in that is some demolition of the front walls to make way for the new construction. The cornerstone to the right of the main entrance was removed and stored for re-use when construction is near completion. More on that in another post. In the meantime, wood is being added to the interior framing to be used as nailing surfaces for the sheet rock, wainscoting and other wood trim work. As can be seen from this picture, the front walls on the reredos behind the altar area have had the wood facing removed. These will be re-finished with stonework in the near future. Milan Restorations is moving ahead with this interior work with good speed and Marko tells me they are within two weeks of completing the stripping and sanding of the pews to prepare them for final finishing. More on that in later posts, too.

Thanks for following along!

Foundation in Progress

2009-09-19T20:21:00.006-04:00

Sept. 18th and after the first pour (0r pumping) of concrete the forms need to be broken down and prep work for the next section to be poured. Before that work can happen though, there needs to be some wiring demolition completed. The electric and gas lines (old ones) have been cut already, but today, Verizon was on site to demo the final phone wiring leading from the rectory to the church. Parishoner Jim L. was on the crew assigned to do the demo work, so a shout out to Jim and his crew! On the inside, the framing is complete as is the insulation and the electricians were in to do their final work on the new wiring before the walls can be covered up! Should get to see some of that next week. Thanks for following along.

God is our refuge and our strength. Ps.46:1

Pouring (Pumping) Concrete

2009-09-16T13:15:00.005-04:00

Sept. 16th sees new equipment on the construction site. Two concrete trucks and an arial pumper were on hand to begin filling the forms with their mixture of cement, sand and stone. Work began this morning in the southeast corner on a wall that will become part of a hallway, leading from the elevator service area to the cafeteria. I can imagine the children (and perhaps the teachers too) in the classrooms on the south side of the building must be having a difficult time concentrating on their studies with all the activity outside. Thanks for following along.

Footings and Walls

2009-09-12T13:52:00.010-04:00

This week sees some signifiant work on the foundation happening as footings are completed and forms are being put in place for pouring the basement walls. In this picture we can clearly see the bottom of the elevator shaft. The trench work across the parking lot is almost complete and we may get to use the entrance again next week. Most of the plumbing work for the fire suppression system is complete, with the last work being done up in the choir loft (should we call that the balconey, since the choir doesn't use it?) The pipes have been run inside the wall framing on the east and west walls and continued up to the roof. Don't worry, we won't have those bright orange pipes to distract us for long, they will be boxed in with wood to match the roof. Framing is being completed on the north end of the Church this week, including the areas where the Tabernacle used to reside and up behind the rear altar area. The east and west framing is insulated and we should see some walls taking shape next week. Thanks for following along.

Ps. 40:1 I waited patiently for the Lord. He turned to me, and heard my cry.

Foundation

2009-09-03T21:37:00.003-04:00

We can finally see some foundation work being done as this and pictures added to the slide show will attest. The rains have held off and we have footings in place and the beginnings of what will be the new elevator shaft is in the making. Work is going on inside as well, with plumbing work being completed in the cafeteria. It is still ongoing in the church, as is electrical work in the rectory and garage area. Next week, we should start to see the basement walls take shape. Enjoy the slide show, and thanks for following along.

Don’t forsake me, Yahweh. My God, don’t be far from me. Ps.38:21

Summer Continues

2009-08-22T17:34:00.004-04:00

Framing work and plumbing can be seen from this photo. The faux windows are framed in and should be a nice balancing addition to the Church. Some of the piping for the sprinkler system is evident and though you can't tell, electrical work and wiring for the sound system are also in process. There has finally been some progress made outside with the footings for the addition being started. Basement walls could be next week. Let's hope we don't get a repeat of July's rains here in the end of August. Thanks for following along.

Commit your way to God, trust in Him. Ps. 37:5

The Dog Days of Summer

2009-08-19T16:51:00.006-04:00

That means things move a little more slowly for most of us, and it may seem that way for the restoration project too! Actually a lot of things have been happening, now that the rains of July are past. They really made a mess of things and prevented some important work from getting done, namely footings and foundations for the addition. Anyway, as you can see from this picture, dealing with the weather has been a high priority. Luckily work progresses inside, with plumbing being a priority in the cafeteria. This needs to be done in time for school to open. Thanks for following along.

Digging, Framing, Plumbing

2009-07-29T21:23:00.003-04:00

A lot of activity going on inside and outside! I've been away the last couple of weeks on travel for business and then vacation with the Boy Scout Troop in the Florida Keys! So let's get up to speed with what has been going on. As we can see the parking lot has a long trench through it to make way for the new water and electric service to be brought in from the street. This will connect through the back corner of the rectory and garage area and continue on to the Church. Progress is slow in the foundation area of the portion of the building to be added on. The recent rains have made it impossible to create the foundation and complete the pipe work for the water. In the meantime, the sprinkler system piping in the cafeteria is almost complete. Not tested, but at least the work in the ceiling is almost done. Next up for that crew, continue up into the Church. The framing in the old gathering area is complete (including the new accessible restroom and the location for the elevator) as is the choir loft. Framing has been added to the east and west walls as well. Wiring is being pulled through that framing for electric and sound systems. Next up come the plumbers! We'll check in later in the week to see how things are going.

Thanks for following along.

The Fair is Over

2009-07-06T15:54:00.004-04:00

Well, we've gotten past the fair and things are settling into the normal summer routine around here. All except for the recent activities, some seen and not seen. We can see the beginnings of site work really happening now, with holes and trenches being excavated for the new manholes and drainage systems. Also going in will be water and electrical services in the near future. On the inside a very noticable absence to be explained, the organ has been removed. Speaking with Gene over the weekend, we have an organ on loan, while our new organ is under construction! We'll gather some of the details of that as we move ahead. Thanks for following along.

Ps 34:1 I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth.

Getting Prepped Inside

2009-06-20T13:33:00.007-04:00

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

2009-06-10T20:34:00.010-04:00

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

2009-06-08T20:06:00.005-04:00

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!

2009-06-08T19:57:00.006-04:00

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

2009-06-02T21:11:00.007-04:00

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

Moving along (slowly)

2009-05-07T08:39:00.004-04:00

There have been a few delays with getting a majority of the work started, on the outside at least. We should see some of that change in the very near future. Meetings were to be held this week to work out the last little details. In the meantime, some work has continued with Milan Restorations working on the inside and at their warehouse in Elizabeth. All the pews have been dismantled and serialized and are ready to be removed. The altar area platforms are gone and the confessionals and crying room are too. Marco (from Milan) told me they had to construct a larger paint spray booth in their facility to accomodate our pew length for spraying the new stain and protective coatings. The organ remains behind, but it is well protected having been encased in a large wooden box. It is not in the way, so it was decided to leave it in place. The hope is that the pews would leave the building this week and work might really begin late this week or early next. Stay tuned. See the slide show for some new photos of work being done. I'll rotate out some of the 'before' pictures and start to replace them with 'during' so we can see some progress.

When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. Ps 56:3

Real Work Begins

2009-04-21T22:04:00.006-04:00

Monday 4/20 - Wednesday 4/22, I got a chance to see some 'real' work happening, on the inside at least. While it doesn't look like anything is going on from the outside, as we drop our children off for school, Milan Restorations actually has started removing kneelers (we're getting new, lighter 'quieter' ones) and dis-assembling the pews. Milan has a warehouse in Elizabeth where they will be taken for restoration. They will strip and refinish the pews while the inside of the Church is being remodeled. It's tedious work taking the pews apart after fifty years and without doing any damage. More work being done was the removal of the heating system vents, sound system speakers and other woodwork and hardware from the walls. This crew was about five or six, but I expect we'll be seeing a lot more activity and people in the weeks ahead.

God is present as my helper; the Lord sustains my life. Ps 54:6

Let's Get Started!

2009-04-17T21:30:00.007-04:00

Today I had the opportunity to meet with the General Contractor and one of the major contractors for the project; Myron Kukuruza, President of United Design and Construction Corp of Clifton, NJ and Marko Golubovic, Co-Owner of Milan Remodeling & Restoration of Woodbridge, NJ. (http://www.milanrestoration.com/) UDC is the general contractor in charge of the entire project and the addition to the Church, and Milan Restoration is responsible for the restoration of the existing Church. While work has not officially begun, Marko was there today taking some rough measurements of the pews and marking them for removal. They need to make sure the pews get back in the same locations, since the first fifty years has already determined their 'character' and they need to make sure they fit back in place after refinishing. We'll also get to meet additional people involved in the construction as work begins, not wanting to leave out the equipment operators, masons, plumbers, carpenters, electricians, steelworkers, glaziers, installers and more.

Myron then gave me a rundown of the site work to be done initially (electrical, water, drainage, etc), affecting the Church, Rectory and School in some ways. Actual work is expected to begin next week, with the removal of the pews as first priority, before tearing up the parking lot, sidewalk and curbing. We should see construction equipment and trailers begin to show up early next week as well as temporary fencing erected to keep our 500+ school children from wandering too close to the site. Next week, we should also have the final schedule available and we'll lay out the highlights for the coming months.

The rough schedule Myron laid out today is an aggressive one, with early estimates having us back in our Church for Christmas! That would certainly be a blessing for all of us, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. I'll have full access to the site during the renovations, to see what's going on "on the inside" and I'll make sure to take lots of pictures of the progress.

Thanks for following along.

Hear my prayer, God. Listen to the words of my mouth (or my hands). Ps. 54:2

Easter Sunday

2009-04-12T09:54:00.006-04:00

Well, here we are at Easter Sunday 2009. A significant day in the life of the Catholic Church and Catholics around the world. For us here in Colonia, it also is a day of significance, our last Easter in the 'old' Church. Starting this week, the restoration project begins and continues for the next nine to eleven months! Our hope is that all goes well during this time. We may be inconvenienced a bit, but we have all been preparing for this project and have something wonderful to look forward to upon its completion. A Blessed Easter to all!

A Blessed Easter to all!

2009-04-10T13:28:00.003-04:00

As we prepare for the great Easter celebrations of this weekend, take a moment to enjoy the slideshow now posted. Let your memories take you back over the fifty years of the Church's history here in Colonia.

Next week, we'll take a look at the timeline and the people responsible for the construction of the Church and the refurbishing of the sanctuary. It's an exciting time for all!

Welcome to the Restoration of SJV Church in Colonia, NJ

2009-04-06T21:01:00.002-04:00

Our mission is to create a permanent record of the process of restoring our beloved Church and to keep the faithful informed as to the progress being made. We hope you enjoy this modern method of following along and will make this a regular stop on your time spent on the web. We hope to show pictures from the inside during all phases of restoration, follow along on the timeline to see how things are progressing, meet with major contractors involved in the process and more. Join us over the next nine to eleven months as we Prepare the Way to our new Saint John Vianney Church in Colonia, NJ.