PARISH LIBRARY IS MOVING

Our parish library has been in a closet-like room just off of the parking lot entrance.  Jamie Ploch has done an amazing job of organizing and cataloging a wonderful collection of inspirational books and CD's for all ages.  The library will be moving downstairs to a larger area where it will be more accessible to parishioners with the ability to expand in the future.  We hope to have an actual reading area in the new space for people to read and relax.  The library will double as a meeting room for some of the many groups that meet in the evenings.


The "old" library

This past week our construction crew took out the wall between the vestibule of the parking lot entrance and the library.  We will be creating a "welcome center" in this location.  The purpose is to have a central spot with information about our church for visitors and parishioners.  This will also clear up some of the clutter and congestion.  We plan to have a flat screen TV which will scroll with current and upcoming events.  We hope that we will also be able to live stream a Sunday Mass on the TV so that it can be used as a convenient "cry area" for parents of young children.

 

If you are a contractor or woodworker and would like to re-install the library shelves and cabinets in the new space, we could use your help!  Please contact the parish office (262-248-8524) if you would consider this to be your contribution to Project 2017.

 

An added bonus of opening up this space is that this gorgeous stained glass window will now be visible to all entering and leaving the church from this entrance.  This window is original to the church (from 1896!) and was moved from a former entrance on the west side of the church that existed before the chapel was built. The symbol at the bottom of the window is a stylized form of "IHS".  These Greek letters (I = iota, H = eta, S = sigma) are the first three letters of the name "Jesus."  Isn't it beautiful?

 Window that will now be visible from both inside and out



We hope to have the new library up and running in about 4 weeks.  Meanwhile, if you have checked things out, feel free to return them to the parish office.

OUR VISION IS STARTING TO TAKE SHAPE!

 

They say a picture is worth a thousand words!  Here is a progression of photos with the one in the middle taken on January 16, 2017.  The scaffolding is going up this week so that the artists can start the painting and stenciling.  Our church will be bright and welcoming....lighting the way to the future!

 

 

Before

During

After!

RESTORING THE GLORY!

The team of Project 2017 went through a lengthy process to choose our painting contractor.  Starting over a year ago, 3 different liturgical design companies were interviewed.  They each came and looked at the church, proposed ideas, and gave bids on their work.  It was a very close case between two of the companies, but in the end Conrad Schmitt Studios Inc.of New Berlin, Wisconsin was chosen to be the lead contractor for Project 2017.

This family owned company has been doing architectural art for over a century.   Specializing in decorative painting and restoration of sacred spaces, their resume of projects is extensive.  It includes cathedrals, churches, theatres, government buildings, and other public places.  They do work locally as well as all over the country; some of their projects include the interior restorations of the Basilica of St. Josaphat  in Milwaukee and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame.  You can view their website to see more of their work here: http://www.conradschmitt.com/

The Conrad Schmitt Studio in New Berlin--Photo credit Tom Knoll

In addition to doing decorative painting and stenciling,  Conrad Schmitt studios designs and restores stained glass, mosaics, murals, sculptures, and church statuary.  They will be examining, restoring, and adding some color to the SFDS Stations of the Cross, our Mary and Joseph statues, and our Jesus on the Crucifix.  All of these are at the studio now being worked on and will be re-installed in time for Holy Week.

One of the artists working on our Stations of the Cross

In late October some of the Project 2017 team members were able to go to New Berlin to see the artists in action.  We were looking at some of the proposed stencil designs and took a tour of the studio. We feel very fortunate that the President of the Conrad Schmitt Studio, Gunar Gruenke, is our project director.  He and another family member/manager, Courtney Alvarez, are wonderful to work with and have spent a lot of time attending meetings with us and re-working designs to our satisfaction.  They have also been very helpful to us in finding other specialty contractors and coordinating the worker's calendar as the general contractor.  It's a challenge to have Project 2017 completed in this timeline, but so far we are on schedule!  Your prayers are working!

Project 2017 Team Members Laura Zappitelli and Ken Etten view designs with Gunar.

 

 

MARBLE WALLS

The black marble that has been on the walls of the church behind the altar was installed in 1958 as part of a remodeling that took place at that time.  You can see the "before" and "after" pictures here:

 

 

As you know, part of the Project 2017 plan is to remove the marble from the walls in order to brighten and lighten the space. (The marble steps, floor, and altars will stay.)  The black marble on the walls is from Italy and is called Portoro Marble.  We have hired Murray Granite and Marble Works, from Bartonville, Illinois, to take the marble down.  They have just started the process and that will be completed this coming week.  Some of it will be cut and re-purposed into other areas of Project 2017 including the new baptismal font and the new Our Lady of Guadalupe devotional area.  We will also be selling a portion of it.  This type of marble is frequently used for fireplace hearths, table tops, and bases for sculptures (see the photos below for ideas).  If you would have any interest in purchasing a slab of Portoro marble before we put it on the market, please contact the Parish Office or any of the Project 2017 team members.