It’s been a while since I provided a report on our construction progress, and I am happy to share the news that the Education and Faith Center, the St. Carlo Acutis Chapel, and the “Parish Green” will be completed by May 31st! More than 600 families shared their treasure to realize the transformation of our campus and create beautiful space for worship, learning, recreation, and fellowship. Each of you will receive my personal thanks in a matter of days.
Here’s a detailed report on the project:
The Education and Faith Center will be home to the Saint Aloysius Catholic Preschool, St. Aloysius Parish Religious Education, Pack 45 and Troop 45 Scouts, and many parish ministries. The building is beautifully appointed, bright, inviting, and contains state-of-the-art audio-visual, HVAC (including heated floors in many of the preschool classrooms), multiple data ports, and numerous safety and security features. The different classroom colors are complemented by splendid crown molding, chair rails, and plenty of bookshelves and cubbies. The restrooms in the classrooms and in the hallways are age and size-appropriate. There are so many triple-pane windows in the rooms and hallways that create a bright and open feel.
The Saint Carlo Acutis Chapel will have beautiful appointments (some are re-purposed from churches that closed in Connecticut and New York). The wainscoting on the walls and the wood beams that soar thirty feet create an inspiring, prayerful environment. Once the stained-glass windows are installed (mid-September), the chapel will be a truly splendid respite for busy visitors, a place to encounter Christ in word and sacrament for all, and a daily reminder for our children that Jesus is always near. As the chapel took shape, I imagined Mass, baptisms, weddings, wakes, and funerals in the intimate space named for a Saint who loved our Eucharistic Lord so deeply.
The Gymnasium can also serve as an auditorium and social space and will be one of the places we can accommodate worshippers when the church is too full at Christmas or Easter. The clerestory windows in the roof marry the building to the old church, and the color scheme harkens back to Saint Aloysius School days. And speaking of Saint Aloysius School, I saved every trophy and banner from the old school so we can proudly display them in the new building. There are showers and locker rooms so we can offer the Emmaus Retreat on our own property one day. The stage area provides a perfect space to hold presentations, music performances, and the preschool Christmas pageant.
The “Parish Green” will boast a sprawling lawn, a plethora of trees (yes, they have arrived and are “parked” in our lots near the church), two playgrounds, and a space for outdoor worship. Beautiful fences with stone footings will keep the area safe, and benches will provide a place for conversation, prayer, and enjoying the beauty of God’s creation.
I will very soon invite you to tour the space and to come to the special Mass and Blessing of the buildings and green. In the meantime, please know how grateful I am to God, St. Aloysius, St. Carlo, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and all of you for bringing us
to this glorious moment in the history of our parish.
Yours in Christ,
