Week 2 - Site Work Continues

Last week, we had the first of our dirt moved, and this week we've already got a substantial hole dug.

It's interesting to see the cement chunks coming up that were part of the old convent basement; when the convent was torn down, the basement was simply filled in. As part of the construction, this has to come out.

Pictures of the progress in Week 2 can be seen in our album.

In other news, our furniture spec should be going out late this week. The goal is to have responses back by the middle of May.

The parish staff is frantically preparing to vacate the old parish center by the end of May. They will be taking up temporary locations around the campus, including the Youth Room in the grade school. This will allow us to start the asbestos abatement early enough to have the building come down in August. That will certainly help the parking situation!

Passing of Melvin Wood

This morning we learned that Melvin Wood passed away while traveling in Texas. Melvin was one of the principals at Lee Wood Contracting, who are the excavators for the Parish Center construction.

Out of respect for Melvin and for the Wood family, construction of the parish center will be suspended until after the funeral, which will be held on Thursday.

The full obituary can be found here.

Groundbreaking!

Over 100 years ago, a group of Polish immigrants, eager to share their Catholic faith and celebrate their heritage, founded a church in honor of St. Stanislaus Kostka. Through their loving sacrifice, a beautiful parish was built.

Today, we begin to build upon that legacy. Our Parish Campus project has broken ground.

We were fortunate to have with us for the groundbreaking ceremony Bishop Robert Carlson, Mayor Michael Buda, and Fourth Ward Commissioner Tim Flannery to mark the event.

The event was covered by WSGW AM790 and the Catholic Weekly, and included procession from the church, comments and blessings by Fr. Bill and Bishop Carlson, and the ceremonial shovelfuls of dirt. The article from the Bay City Times about the groundbreaking can be found here

Pictures from the event can be found in our photo album

For us on the Building Committee, this is an especially exciting day! The committee has worked SO hard over the last 5 years, first on the "needs assessment" that revealed that a new building was the most economical way to go, and later on the plans and layouts, features and decisions -- hundreds upon hundreds of decisions, big and small -- that made the project possible.

For the Parish Council and Capital Campaign Committees, I'm sure the day was equally gratifying. All the hard work, and we will now begin to see the fruits of our labor.

I invite you to follow the progress of the construction via this blog. Throughout construction, we will be posting updates, including photos and videos, so that you, our Parish family, can be up-to-date on what it happening with YOUR parish center.

Thank you for your support. Thank you for your patience. Thank you for your faith.

And pardon our dust. :)