The road to renovating Newman has already been a long one ... but we're making the turn to home.  Work on "Phase II" began Monday, 18 August 2008, and we formally celebrated its completion 19 April 2009 with a "Rounding 1st and Heading to 2nd Event."  This $1.1 million dollar piece of the program created four up-to-date office spaces for key staff on the University-side of our building, transformed what was originally designed as a private entrance into a real public portal, and relocated some current spaces (sacristry, janitor's room, etc) to make space for the Chapel Renovation in Phase Two.

After we allowed the "Building on Good Faith Cookie Jar" to refill from the pledges made by our members and friends, "Phase II" began 07 May 2010.  This $1.8 million dollar effort is the meat of the project, giving our Chapel a complete makeover (with the main intention there of shaping a worship space that will offer unobstructed, well-lit, well-ventilated, handicap-accessible seating for 480) and reclaiming a Gathering Space/First Floor Lounge from the reclaimed former offices.  Happily we were able to return to our Chapel for Christmas worship 2010.  There are a few pieces that remain to be addressed--some major (new ambo, altar, font, and a worthy crucifix) and some minor (numbers for the stations, new credence shelves, a pedastel for our Marian statue, a sanctuary lamp).  The minor items will be addressed this summer, and the major ones by winter 2011.

After we recover from that, there will be a relatively small Phase Three--addressing some necessary, but less visible, HVAC, ceiling, and kitchen needs in our lower level.  It is projected to cost $200,000 to complete, and we are hoping to undertake in summer 2011 or early 2012.  Because of economic conditions some of our benefactors have had to restructure, or even step back from, their original pledges.  We are confident that there will be folks able and willing to "adopt-a-pledge" to take the burden off those who have lost a job or had a family crisis over the last three years.  Small parish fundraisiers like May's plant sale and continued direction of any annual surplus in the parish checkbook to the cause is helping meet the needs.  Of course, your gift is always welcome.