Dear Parishioners,
As I mentioned last week in my pastor letter that this weekend marks a new beginning for the church liturgical year (Advent) and a new beginning for IHM with its needed offertory increase and sanctuary renovation. I eagerly await these outcomes. In reference to the sanctuary renovation, Bishop Malesic requires first a specific “drawing” with the help of architects and the diocesan liturgy office. I have not yet sent this drawing to him as it is not yet finalized.
Here you can see the rough draft and incomplete drawing of the proposed renovation. What you see here is the tabernacle on the very back wall (eliminating the slatted screens) and opening a large space which can be used for personal adoration (chairs not yet drawn in). The presider’s chair would be placed in a similar location as is now.
The plan is to also move the pulpit “forward.” The draft shows some kind of solid flooring which is yet to be determined. The carpeting UNDER the pews will remain as a sound buffer. When the tabernacle is placed in the center that leaves the side-altar empty, but I plan to use it for a devotional area placing a statue of Our Lady of Fatima and the children. It was at that appearance in Fatima that she asked the children to tell the world to “give devotion to my Immaculate Heart!” The baptismal font (not depicted as of this draft) will remain in its current location. So, you know that I still have some work to do to finalize it.
Lastly, the blue wall in the back around the wood wainscoting will have “stars” on it. I can actually find the same constellation of stars that existed on August 22, 1952, when our church was founded! So cool!
After sending the finalized drawing (hopefully this month), and once this drawing is approved, then the bishop will allow me to research the costs for this. That will be the next step for this future sanctuary renovation.
For your information right now, because of your past generosity to the 2022 Diocesan campaign called HEART OF THE SHEPHERD, of which you participated, IHM has a reserve of half million dollars restricted by you for this future renovation.
I believe this future sanctuary renovation will cost more than that, but this is a good start.
After approving the drawing and then giving me permission to research cost, he will then have to approve the total cost amount. Once that is done, he will only give his “go ahead,” for renovation but only if I have ½ of the total cost “in the bank” and the remaining half “pledged” by you.
Therefore, IHM will have to have some sort of pledged campaign, in the spring of 2025 to make this happen! Construction dates will be determined after that. So, we have some things to do in the next several months. Time will tell.
As always, thank you for listening to me in this letter.
Many blessings,
Father Jim