Week 19 - We were Framed!

You've probably heard the expression "he was framed" in the context of someone being set up for a crime they didn't commit. Used this way, the idea of framing implies the person is boxed in by the evidence and cannot escape. It sounds like a very bad place to be.

Most of the time, though, frames can be a very positive thing. Frames provide decoration, such as the frame around a photograph. They provide support, such as the frame around a pair of glasses.

They can even provide structure, as evidenced by the exterior wall framing installed this week on the new Parish Center. You can see in this week's photo album how the structure of the windows around the exterior of the building are created and identified by their framing.

It's easy to see the importance of frames. Around the kitchen area of the new parish center, you can witness how the limestone beltline and splash stones frame in the colors of the building, making the red and tan stand out and complement each other. The arches and architecture of the church itself frame the entrance to our house of worship, highlighting it as a place of welcome and community.

If you look deeper, though, you can find the idea of frames is almost universal. The Church provides a frame within which the whole of our beliefs is contained. Each week, the mass provides a framework for our worship. We take these beliefs with us, and use them as the framework for how we treat others, and how we live our lives. Clearly, its important to have frames.

To some, it may not look like a lot has happened on our parish campus this week. To me, the framework we have laid forms the foundation for all that will be accomplished through this project. In that sense, being framed is a very good thing indeed.

It's really all about your frame of mind.

Week 18 - A Sense of Scale

It's amazing how a person's sense of scale can change over time.

As you can see in our photo album, the first floor continues to evolve. Having had the floor joists, ceiling trusses, and support beams installed, this week the floor was added. As a result, the space seems a bit smaller than it did before.

Strangely, the opposite is true of the parish hall, which this week had its floor leveled and initial ceiling structure installed. If anything, the hall seems LARGER than before.

Also looming larger this week is the parking lot in front of the church, which continues to be cleared of debris from the high school demolition. This week, the powerhouse was removed following the successful rerouting of the water feed to the grade school.

The challenge now is to begin buttoning up the site work in time for the start of school in a few weeks. Crews are currently preparing the drainage tile for the parking lot, which must be completed before the site can be re-leveled and compacted.

The farther we advance in this project, the more I am amazed at the rate at which things are progressing. Our plans are big, but the construction timeframe is small -- and the team is up to the job!

Week 17 - The More Things Change...

This past weekend, the parish popped the lid on a 56-yr old treasure; namely, the time capsule which was stored in the cornerstone of the High School Building.

The capsule contained a number of insights into the life of St. Stanislaus Parish in 1951, including a newspaper, a bill (paid in full, thankfully!) for the construction of the High School, and scrolls containing rosters of the school staff (23 Felician nuns), students, contributors to the building fund, and the parish organizations of the day, among other gems.

Pictures from the event, as well as this week's construction updates, are in the photo album.

It's hard to not compare St. Stan's then vs. now. Back then, priests and religious were plentiful, and St. Stan's boasted a Monsignor, two assistant priests, and 23 Felician Sisters. More than 850 students were enrolled in the Catholic schools at St. Stan's. The new high school building was constructed at a cost just over $440,000. Most scary, gasoline was about $0.20 a gallon!

Times have sure changed (especially when it comes to gasoline).

Or have they?

St. Stan's is still blessed with strong examples of religious life. Fr. Bill, Deacon Nick, Sr. Bea, and Sr. Florence provide strong leadership to the Parish, and they have a dedicated group of staff and lay leaders backing them up. And although the numbers may be smaller, Catholic Education is certainly alive and well at St. Stanislaus School.

Most importantly, the drive to continue the mission of our parish founders is as strong as ever. It's evident in the work of the Parish Campus. It's evident in the crowds that gather for every major event in the parish, be they focused on our past (such as the demolition of the school or the time capsule opening), present (parish picnics, annual Expositions, or Eucharistic Congress), or future (groundbreaking, fundraisers such as the Fall Cash Bash, or the like).

Whether it's a $440,000 school building or a $4.2million parish campus rennovation, our Parish pulls together. I guess it's like they say: "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

Except for the price of gas, that is.

Week 16 - What Goes Down...

...must come up!

Steel arrived this past Sunday....and Monday....and Tuesday, and erection of the shell of the Parish Center has begun in earnest. In only four days, half of the first floor has its floor joists and ceiling members installed, and the hall has seen significant progress made.

Photos from this week, including an exclusive aerial shot, can be found in our photo album.

Meanwhile, clearing of the high school site has seen significant gains. Most of the recyclable materials have already been removed from the site, and the rest is in the process of being removed. Already, as shown in the album, a clear view of the front of the church has emerged.

Meanwhile, workers have begun uncovering the crawlspaces that served as utility runways for the building. Also, a new water connection is being installed for the grade school building, and the power tie-ins (which didn't happen this week) should be happening sometime next week.

The updated schedule from Hendrick allows us to more accurately plan our next steps, including electrical installation, furniture delivery, and installation of the memorial plaza. Based on this information, the deadline for ordering bricks in time to have them installed in the initial installation has been extended until August 31. We will still accept orders after this time (and likely for years to come), but they will be installed periodically throughout the year.

I'm pleased to report that the video included in last week's post has had over 150 hits on YouTube in only one week. Thanks to all who are tuning in!

Things will be moving very fast now, so be sure to stop back often for updates!