Two and a half months after we celebrated the successful conclusion of Phase I of our Building on Good Faith Renovation project (remember, we were “rounding first, and heading to second”?) the last piece is finally place, and the folks at Fowler & Hammer have folded up their tool chests and moved on to other projects. The piece we had been waiting on was the special sink for the sacristy (called, in the church biz, a “sacrarium”) which, if on one side is a conventional kitchen sink on the other it drains into ground below our building and not into the city’s sewer system. That’s the side into which we pour the water used in baptism and the initial rinse water from cleansing the vessels and purficators after Mass. The piece arrived months ago but damaged, and it has taken this long to receive its twin from Ye Olde Sacrarium Shoppe. Come take a look at the sacristy (it’s where Fr. Mark’s garage used to be) and be ready to ooh and aaah. The room that has been the storage place for vesture and church items up to this point will become part of the church seating in Phase II … and perhaps will serve as a classroom for a PSF group until then.

Peter Stuber, the manager representing F & H told me that there will be two days that we will be especially glad to see the builders: the very first day, and the very last. They were a great group to work with, but you know, he was right.

Having said that we are done with the renovation until (perhaps) next May, you may still some new things around here. A few weeks back I dropped a hint about a “painting party” I was hoping to throw this summer to bring the downstairs hallways into color coordination (matching old construction with new), and then a very generous parishioner with a true eye stepped up and offered to do the work all by himself. Yeah. And then we have some extra speakers in the lower overhang areas of the chapel. That isn’t part of our renovation work yet, but the helpful hand of another parishioner with a sensitive ear who works in the world of sound. Your days of using the “I couldn’t hear the preacher” excuse are over. We’ve also noted with the creation of the mandated “place of rescue” at the base of the stairwell on the parking lot side. A new light will be appearing soon in a stairwell near you. And, while you won’t notice it for some time, the folks at the Family and Children’s Center have updated the safety illumination in their parking area (that we use). I’m not complaining, but let’s just say I don’t have to worry about a night-light in my apartment.