Church Beautification Slated for This Winter

Last weekend, Father Brian Park announced a major beautification project for the nave of St. Michael Catholic Church, funded by a generous donor who wanted to leave a major legacy to the parish. Father's homily and the two-page handout and Q&A below walk through the project and how it came to be. If you are interested in helping to complete the vision, contact Father Park at the parish office.

1. What is the purpose of this painting project? We have one of the most beautiful churches built in the archdiocese in recent history, but it was never supposed to be left white forever. We have the opportunity to give the interior a more unified and finished look, like our historic church, adding detailing, scripture verses, and more to tie the space together and raise our heart and minds to heaven.
2. How can we afford this with the current building project underway? Last summer, we hired Conrad Schmitt Studios to help us develop a vision for completing the interior of the church so when parishioners want to make a gift specifically to our worship space, we could give them some options. This spring, a generous donor who wanted to leave a visible legacy in our church made large donation to complete much of the painting and decorating we hoped to do.
3. Shouldn’t we use this gift for the current construction project or a new school? That wasn’t an option. Our donor was very specific about the intent—a visible and beautiful impact in the worship space itself. Our options were to accept this very generous gift or refuse it.
4. What is included in the project? The two-page handout from Conrad Schmitt shows the painting we would like to do in the worship space (page 1), and what our donor’s gift is able to fund at this time (page 2).
5. What’s the timeframe? We plan to begin this work after Christmas 2022 and be finished at the end of March 2023, in time for Holy Week.
6. What about Mass while this work is going on? Our new social hall will be set up for Mass until the church reopens, with the gym available for overflow. We can still use the social hall for certain other activities, provided we have time to tear down and set up again before the next Mass.

MORE INFORMATION

• Father Park's announcement and homily
• Two-page handout from Conrad Schmitt Studies (page 1 is the complete vision; page 2 is what the donor's gift will fund)