I'm excited to share more photos of the church renovation as it progresses and we get closer to returning to our church home this August.

Artists from Conrad Schmitt Studios are on site, painting the decorative stenciling that adorns the beams of our new coffered ceiling. As you can see in the photo below, the colors tie in well with the brick and wood of our new pews. (Once the stenciling has been completed, all the brick will be cleaned to remove the dust from the installation of the new drywall.)

The photos below show the exterior of the new dome, which is positioned directly over the altar. The glow of the lighting illuminates the interior of the dome, where St. John's vision of heavenly worship will be brought to life in a new painting that will be a centerpiece of our renovated church. This view of the dome is from the top of the scaffolding, so it is very different from what we will see from the pews, looking up into the dome from below.

Carpenters are finishing the new reredos that anchors the back of the sanctuary. In the photo below, you can see the arches that will hold and frame the new paintings of Christ on the Cross with the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. John at the foot of the Cross. The reredos will receive a marbelized finish matching the Botticino marble of the new altar, ambo, and tabernacle pedestal. In the photo below, you can see the very beginning stages of the marbleizing taking place. 

As we shared at the very beginning of the project, we made a decision to carry the medium of painting throughout the renovated church to tie everything together visually. The artwork in the various painted images brings to life our faith and the sacred writings of St. John the Evangelist in a powerful and moving way. 

Much of the art is new, like the Crucifixion scene and St. John's vision of heavenly worship in the dome. However, we are also incorporating older works of art commissioned for other churches, which are being restored and installed here, most notably the Stations of the Cross. 

The Stations are beautiful paintings executed in oil on tin and then framed in large handcrafted wooden frames. The Catholic company that rescued the Stations from a closed church could not provide us with any specific history of the Stations or the church where they were originally installed. However, we know that they are old enough that with time and age, the paintings darkened, and the wood needed care. All of that is being addressed now as we prepare them to be installed here at St. John. 

Below, you can see the painting of the 11th Station before and after restoration. The difference is amazing!  

As we approach our dedication date, I want to thank you again for your patience during this year in the PAC. Amid various hassles and frustrations, you have rolled with our many changes and challenges amazingly. Thank you!

And thank you again for your incredible generosity in making this project possible. The scope of work has been vast: We've upgraded and replaced the heating system, the air conditioning and ventilation system, lighting, roof and church insulation, pews, the fire alarm and control systems, abated the asbestos and addressed many other issues, not to mention the new liturgical appointments and sacred art that will adorn the renovated church.

Thank you for making all of this possible and for entrusting me, our staff, and parish leaders with this great responsibility, which has been so many years in the making.

Please continue to pray for the successful completion of our renovation over these remaining few months as we count down to August 20. 

Sincerely in Christ,