future projects

Father Jim is committed to having a facility that is welcoming, sacred, and fitting for worship.  These current projects will help create an appropriate environment for the House of God and provide the repairs needed for the Bell Tower entrance.  The Baptismal font in the back of the Sanctuary will be removed and smaller Holy Water fonts will be located near the entrance.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Submit Comments on these Projects

Front Entrance (Bell Tower) 
Beginning in mid-August, we will update the front “bell tower” entrance including updating the nearly 40-year-old leaky roof line and installing new doors.  

Restroom Remodel
This project's renovations will include the restrooms, which haven't been remodeled since they were built 30 years ago. The plan will make the restrooms ADA-compliant and will also include family restrooms. Many of our parishioners and guests require assistance in the restrooms and the family restrooms will make it easier for them as well as those with mobility issues. 

Note: M=Men, W=Women, T=Toilet (Family), J=Janitor Closet 



The entrance area and restroom updates, estimated at $1,100,000, will be paid for from our savings. Because of your faithful partnership we can accomplish this without a capital campaign. 

During the construction, the main entrance will be inaccessible. Four exit doors will be open in case of emergency.




We invite your comments or input! Please complete the form below.

Adoration Chapel Update
Fr. Jim provided an update on the Adoration Chapel in December 2022.  "Finding space for a dedicated and beautiful adoration chapel has been on my mind and heart since before Covid displaced our original site. Our present location in our Daily Mass Chapel is working, but has drawbacks. We have actively explored a number of alternatives, from remodeling other existing spaces to even expanding our footprint with a building project, but have not found a viable solution. So it seems the Lord is calling us to deeper discernment regarding his plans for this chapel, and like all things at our parish must be birthed in prayer.  I encourage you to visit our existing chapel regularly and among your prayers, to ask God to help us discern his will for this chapel." 

Father has established an Adoration Chapel Committee, under the direction of Mary Jo Weinreis, to prayerfully discern the next step for the Adoration Chapel.  

Our Sanctuary Renovation Project in 2021 involved installing large LED screens to display prayers and song lyrics in order to encourage participation. All are able to enter in to the liturgy easily with the Mass responses and words to the music displayed. 

In order to emphasize the importance and centrality of the Altar, we doubled the size of the Altar area, giving a sense of proportion and dignity to the holy space. In addition, we added ADA ramp accessibility and beautiful marble flooring.

Altar Area Before

Altar Area After

A new altar, ambo (lectern), and altar furniture will complete our Sanctuary Renovation Project.  (Expected completion/delivery: fall 2023.)

New foliage has been planted on either side of the altar area, which will flourish in future years.

Why isn't the current Prayer Room in the Bell Tower entrance going to be converted into our new Adoration Chapel?
There were several concerns about that space including parking, congestion (especially during events like funerals and weddings), and noise.  The space is also used extensively for Living Stations, Vacation Bible School, and other activities. A restroom would need to be built as well as a small parking lot. 

What is the estimated cost of the entire project (entrance and restrooms)?
Our construction partners have given us a recent cost estimate of $1.1 million.  This expense was approved by the Trustees and the Finance Committee and paid for with our parish reserves.

Who has been involved in the planning process?
The Trustees (Christine Arntzen and Greg Furness), Pastoral Council, and Finance Council have all provided leadership and direction for this project.  Our Director of Operations, Tom Pavlovich, hired an architectural firm called Station 19, which specializes in working with churches and other ministries.  Station 19 led us through a master planning process.  Station 19 was also the architecture firm for the 1994 addition at the Church of Saint Paul, which included the Family Activity Center and the Daily Mass Chapel, which is currently used as our Adoration Chapel.

When will the construction begin and end?
Construction began on August 14 and be completed in mid-December.  The restrooms will be completed one at a time, so there will always be restrooms available.  The Bell Tower doors will be inaccessible the entire time of construction.

What will be changing in the Bell Tower entrance?
The entry will be re-done, fixing the doors and the leaky skylight with new aluminum and glass doors and roofline overhang. The Old Prayer Room will be converted to a larger meeting room (similar to Room 5) with a liturgical storage room on the west side.

Why is the Baptismal font being removed?
The Baptismal font will be removed to allow for better traffic flow, particularly for funerals (caskets), weddings, and special Masses like Easter Vigil. Smaller Holy Water fonts will be installed and the Baptistry in the Family Activity Center entrance will remain.

Could the Women's Room layout be re-configured so that the door doesn't open into the ADA stall door?
The toilet stalls take up the most wall space and it’s most efficient to place them backed against the same wall.  The modesty doors will be 9.5 inches from the floor and will have "occupied" "unoccupied" indicators on the locks.

Are we going to have a cemetery?
We are doing some very preliminary feasibility studies to see if a cemetery is possible in the area across from the rectory.  No proposal or decision has been made.

Who can we talk with if we have questions about this project?
Tom Pavlovich, our director of operations, would be happy to speak with you about the plans.  Contact Tom at tom@churchofsaintpaul.com or (763) 777-8603

2022
Annual Report