It's done! We began renovations in the Upper Church in late June of 2009. We posted these updates here and in the Lower Church:
Background on our Building Campaign and photos of the Church before the renovation projects.
June 29 through July 3 - The Church is cleared and work begins.
July 4 through July 10 - Progress is made in a number of major areas including installation of the floor, repairs to the columns, preparation for painting.
July 13 through 17 - The sanctuary platform is shaping up nicely! Painting continues throughout the church - with the addition of some lovely details. Repairs to the columns continue.
July 20 through 24 - The sanctuary platform is now covered with protective plastic sheeting. Progress continues in every nook and cranny - enough to get a good idea of how beautiful the outcome will be.
July 27 through 31 - The process of re-constructing the Altar of Sacrifice has made major progress this week. While the marble sets, the top is temporarily positioned and everything is covered with protective sheeting so the painters can work in the sanctuary area. Faux painting added the look of marble to the Stations of the Cross and the Stained Glass Windows. Work continued in the new confessional and the Sacristy extension. The wainscoting in the church was chipping, cracking and bubbling. It is being stripped and will be stained.
August 3 through 7 - The Main Altar has been completed - with all the relics sealed inside. The back altar is being readied for the placement of the Tabernacle - steps and a platform are being made for this purpose. Painting has been completed - and what a difference that makes! With the Main Altar complete, work on the Baptismal font has started - right now it is in de-construction mode. And there's activity outside as well. The doors at the Winter Hill entrance have been stripped of varnish, stain and paint. They will be beautiful when they are done.
August 10 through 14 - Now that the painters are gone, we can see the beauty of the new floor. New lighting has been installed, highlighting special areas of the Church. The Tabernacle Platform has been completed and work continues on the Back Altar in preparation for the installation of the Tabernacle. The old liner has been removed from the Baptismal Font to make it ready for the mosaic that is being prepared for it. Work on the doors continues - they were in terrible shape with layer upon layer of paint.
August 17-21 - The pews arrived Monday morning - in pieces. They were assembled, positioned and bolted down by late Tuesday night (very late)! Work continued on the marble - the back altar has been fitted for the Tabernacle, which has been sent out for refurbishment. Cleaning of the back altar continues - the painted wood parts have been replaced. Marble also enhances both entries - the ramp remains on the left side of the church. The right-side ramp has been replaced by steps.
August 24-28 - The Tabernacle is in place and the Back Altar has been completed. Marble work continues on the Baptismal Font and the Ambo. The old chairs have been reupholstered; they will return to the front of the church - but at an angle. The entry into the church on the Blessed Mother side is complete - steps have replaced the ramp. We continue to have a ramp on the other side. The handrails have not arrived yet.
August 31 - September 5 - This was the final week of preparation prior to the Vigil Mass being celebrated on Saturday. With the exception of the Baptismal Font, the marble work was completed and the sanctuary floor was polished - in eight phases! New carpeting and linoleum were installed; the doors were stained; the confessional screens were re-upholstered; railings were installed at the entrances; a pedestal was constructed for the statue of the Sacred Heart; there were touch-ups and cleanups. And a beautiful new original work of art has been added: a Triptych of the Holy Family in the carpentry shop! Finally, hours before Mass, everything was brought back upstairs and set in place. Finally, the candle was added to the Sanctuary Lamp!
October - December - The Baptismal Font and Pool still needed to be completed, but the mosaic was being custom made in Italy and the stainless steel liner was also being specially constructed to the dimensions of the pool. The work on the outside of the pool included the addition of marble pieces to complement the sanctuary floor. Once the mosaic arrived, the work inside the pool was completed. The final step was replacing the water pump during the first couple of days in December. This update includes photos of the work on the Baptismal Pool as well as the completed Church.
We thank the workers and everyone in the parish who supported these projects!