In the coming weeks, the barn will be cleared out- junk will be discarded and valuable objects will be stored elsewhere for the time being.  The actual renovating of the barn should start in the second week of February.  Thank you so much for all of your support.  Remember that all donations to this Capital Campaign will not be assessed by the diocese when they calculate our goal for future diocesan campaigns.  (All other donations including to the Building Fund are assessed.)

Regarding the future of the convent, it seems more and more likely that our parish will need extra parking spaces for the barn and perhaps a pavilion where the convent is now.  We have announced this in previous bulletins, but wanted to remind you.  Our parish could always use a few more parking spaces and a pavilion could be such a game changer for many groups that frequently use our beloved parish’s space.

Soon, we will be transporting the 8 historic 1851 paintings of the Stations of the Cross to a professional art studio for restoration.  The paintings are in dire condition including the one in the Blessed Mother’s Chapel.  The cost to restore them seems more than reasonable.  The one in the worst condition will cost about $4000 and the others around the same cost.  So we estimate a price tag of about $32,000—$35,000 to restore all of them.  

This year in particular, watch your donations at work for the preservation of our incredible legacy, the furtherance of our mission, and the enacting of our charism– restoring true charity always from the heart.    AMDG
 

The renovation of the barn has officially started!  Today this bell which has been in the barn for many years has now been removed and sent to the polisher for restoration.  The bell was created some time in the second half of the 1700s.  Could it have been the original bell of our parish?  Quite possibly.  Regardless, it will be restored to its original glory and mounted on a little belfry in the front of the barn similar to how a bell is present at the front sidewalk/ entrance of the church.  We appreciate all of your interest and support in our project!  AMDG.  

Update-- January 7, 2026

There is tremendous support so far for the Capital Campaign with almost $400,000 in donations already received. Thank you! The Capital Campaign starts with the renovation of the parish’s barn to become a meeting space with a small parish museum, gift shop and restrooms.  This part of the project costs $845,085.  Campaign funds raised above and beyond this cost will be for the future of the convent– or the space where the convent is currently located– perhaps a pavilion and additional parking.  Plans are not firm on that as of  now. With no new religious sisters, our parish is still discerning the best path forward.
 
A reminder: the Building Fund is a separate fund from the Capital Campaign.  One difference is that the Capital Campaign funds are not assessed by the diocese — a great benefit for our parish.
 
We are preparing to have the historic paintings of Franz Stecher’s Stations of the Cross restored so that they can be displayed in our museum.  These paintings hung in the church from 1851 until the first decade of the 20^th century.  Then they were placed in the barn.  Decades later, eight of the paintings were removed from the barn and placed in the rectory.   Six of the paintings have been missing for many decades now.  If anyone has any information on these, please let us know.   
 
We praise God for all of this momentum and thank you for your support.  AMDG.