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Entrances - All doors have been completely refinished and new hardware installed; the side entrance doors have been fitted to provide electronic opening for easy access to persons with disabilities.
Vestibule - The space immediately inside the main entrances has been repainted and redone, with enhanced lighting and auxiliary speakers. The large wall paintings have also been cleaned and restored. The former baptistery space (left of main doors) has been redone as a restroom area, which is opened only during times of liturgy. The unisex restroom is fitted to serve people with disabilities and those in need of an infant changing station.
Assembly Space – Rear. Immediately inside the church proper, an enlarged gathering space has been created using the area up to the second set of interior pillars. In the center of this expanded area will be a new, stone gothic baptismal font, larger than the current font. It will have flowing water and will be situated within a space for the font surrounded by the restored wooden (former altar) rails. The font will be of the same marble as the altar and situated to make a visual connection between Baptism and the Eucharist. The paschal candle and ambry (place) for the holy oils will also be located in this space. Against each of the side walls, two new confessionals will be installed to accommodate both discreet and face-to-face confessions. The structures will be designed to match the church architecture and to retain visibility of the stained glass windows. On each of the four rear pillars in this newly-enlarged area, the existing devotional statues have been re-installed on matching pedestals.
Assembly Space – Center and Sides. The restored wooden pews have been reinstalled and allow pass-through from the side aisles to the center aisle to facilitate the Communion processional. The front pews have a special cutout area in the center aisle to facilitate funeral liturgies. Restored pews returned to the side aisle areas have been designed with an allowance for the new wall ventilation units. All the current lighting fixtures in these spaces will be replaced with new fixtures designed to increase light and to be more in keeping with the church’s architecture. The sound system for the assembly has been replaced with new speakers strategically located along the piers for better hearing. Additionally, we have installed an induction loop for persons with hearing aids. This loop is operated in conjuction with the speaker system.
Side Chapels - The paintings in each chapel have been restored. One chapel contains a new marble statue of St. Joseph. The opposite chapel holds a new marble statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Both chapels contain new lighting, a greater number of votive candles, and the necessary furnishings for private prayer.
Sanctuary - The sanctuary platform will be extended out into the Assembly Space so that the steps begin where the altar rail was previously located. The carpeting has been removed throughout the sanctuary. The hard wood flooring that was discovered underneath a layer of vinyl tiles has been sanded, cleaned and brought back to its original spendor. The gothic-style benches (previously located against either side wall) have been brought forward to the sanctuary pillars to set off the sanctuary from the side chapels. The benches also serve as places for servers and readers. Both the table of the Eucharist (altar) and the table of the Word (ambo) will be made of the same marble, to emphasize the integration of Word and Eucharist. The ambo will be brought forward and placed next to the first pillar at the edge of the newly placed sanctuary steps. The ambo will include a place of reposition for the Gospel Book, and an overhanging sound board in the style of gothic ambos. The altar itself will be brought slightly forward and elevated one step on a marble platform at the same level as the first step leading to the place of reservation (the rear altar). This draws a visual connection between the altar and the place of reservation. On one side of the altar will be the presider’s chair, on a slightly elevated platform. Completely new lighting devices will be installed to highlight the important sanctuary locations.
Sanctuary – Rear. The current sanctuary cross and the fabric hangings have been removed. The rear-curved wall of the sanctuary apse behind the tabernacle has been repaired and repainted to match the surrounding the church interior. The central feature of this is a new crucifix with a life-size corpus. On either side of the crucifix are the two existing plaster angel statues, completely restored and re-guilded. Appropriate lighting has been included. Walls and Ceilings. All the plaster has been repaired and refinished.
St. Joseph's Capitol Campaign. While most of the renovation plans described above have been accomplished, additional donations and pledges are required to complete our work. If you would like to donate to this renovation, then click the link at the top of the screen on the right marked Donate. Whatever generosity you can contribute to this major undertaking of the St. Joseph’s Catholic community is greatly appreciated. To quote our campaign motto, our success is “in your hands.”
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