LOOK UP!

The windows being lowered from the Choir Loft

The clerestory windows are the very high round windows toward the top of the church.  Usually impossible to reach, they are now accessible because of the scaffolding.  Ed Gilbertson from Gilbertson's Stained Glass in Lake Geneva was able to remove them and take them over to his shop for inspection.  He and his crew had to cut some bolts and crawl through the space behind the windows to get them out.  They were then carried to the choir loft and carefully lowered with ropes. The windows are in good shape but will be checked and reinforced where needed (they already have some iron bars to keep them strong).  The windows have years of grime on them so they will be cleaned and polished.  Some of them were designed to open in the middle with a motor.  (We're not sure where that switch is!)  Some of the wood frames around them are cracked and those will be repaired as well.


Grab the windex!

These windows will now be accented with a beautiful stencil design created by our Project 2017 artists.  Cleaning them will really let the sun shine through and highlight their beauty!  They are almost finished being tended to and will be reinstalled starting on Thursday, February 8.

All of the clerestory windows have some type of symbol in their design.  The ones in the very front of the church have "A" on the east side window and "O" on the west side window which stands for "Alpha" and "Omega".


Alpha



Omega

Mary

Christ

Cross/Jesus

The Holy Trinity

There is also a very large obsolete speaker right above the altar (no longer in use) that will come down soon.  The fans at the top of the ceiling are being replaced with new more energy efficient ones to create better air movement.  All of the plaster has been patched where needed and painting has begun!


You can see the old speaker here above the altar (looks like a white box)

Breaking news, the speaker is DOWN!
 

We are keeping the hanging light fixtures.  While not part of the original church, they have been here for a very long time and we love their gothic style.  They are down right now being polished, re-wired, and fitted with warm light bulbs that will be energy efficient and actually a little brighter.  We are working on having them on dimmer switches for special liturgies like Holy Saturday.

 

We hope that all of these beautiful appointments of our historical church will surround you with peace and enhance your prayer at St. Francis de Sales.  Everyone is working hard to get it ready for Mass in just a few months!