Thursday, 16 August 2012 14:08
Chris Baalmann, project manager of Simpson & Associates Construction Services, said the stone masons were putting the finishing touches on the floor and on the altar that is in the center of the black marble cruciform floor. The black cross-shaped area of the floor is surrounded by white marble.
All of the stone work in that area was to have been completed by early this week.
Stone masons are working on the baptismal font at the north entrance of the church. Last week they filled the cross-shaped font with water. The font was designed with steps inside the north and south sides for adult catechumens to be baptized.
The font is below a small dome containing a painting of a dove, symbolizing the Holy Spirit. The unfinished areas of the balcony – above the font – await stain. The new balusters, door casings, and jams will be stained soon.
Thursday, 16 August 2012 13:42
KCC’s Schuttloffel to speak Aug. 27 at OLL in Pittsburg
Michael Schuttloffel, executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference, will speak about “Political Responsibility Guidelines to Keep in Mind during the Coming Election Season” at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 27, in the Fieldhouse at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Pittsburg.
Schuttloffel, whose office is in Topeka, will talk about what Catholics have done in the past politically, and what the faithful can do to promote a culture of life that respects the dignity of every human person. He will also talk about what the bishops of Kansas want Catholic voters to know before they cast ballots in the fall.
“Responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation,” Schuttloffel says. “This obligation is rooted in our baptismal commitment to follow Jesus Christ and to bear Christian witness in all we do.”
He also quoted the Catechism of the Catholic Church which states: “It is necessary that all participate, each according to his position and role, in promoting the common good.”
Thursday, 02 August 2012 11:30
Faithful invited to the ‘crawl’ until Aug. 25
Parishioners of St. Vincent DePaul in Andover traveled back to the ’60s the weekend of July 14-15 at their third annual Catacomb Crawl. This year the crawl celebrates the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. Twelve exhibits highlight some of the Council’s major contributions.
There are exhibits that appeal to every age. A favorite among the slightly older crowd are the scrapbooks reviewing the historical events leading up to the council, some of the notable people who attended, and some of the behind the scenes action.
Sister Kathy Vasselli’s ever popular cards are back; this year featuring famous quotes from Vatican II, which Sister Kathy has artistically rendered and offered for reflection. Children may play “church” at each of three displays: The Church at Prayer, The Church at LIFE, and The Church at Service. All ages will enjoy the “Celebrate” exhibit, which sports a revolving altar showing pre and post Vatican II liturgy and the, “See With New Eyes” exhibit, which shows how liturgy can incorporate the cultures of a universal Church.
Several of the exhibits are interactive. Folks can help build a 3-D puzzle of St. Peter’s Basilica, where the council was held, or reach out to others in the spirit of the Council by helping to make a simple quilt for a teen in need.
Thursday, 19 July 2012 14:13
Stonemasons happy to rebuild the altarpiece after cautiously dismantling it
By Christopher M. Riggs
It’s generally easier for John Rooney and his men to reassemble a large decorative art piece than to take it apart.
Rooney, a stonemason with Rugo Stone of Boston, Mass., and his six-man crew began taking the reredos in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception apart just before Thanksgiving.
To make sure they could get it back together, they photographed and blueprinted the puzzle that is the decorative altarpiece.
“During the disassembly process it was tough because it was up against the wall,” he said in a video interview last week.
Putting the stone puzzle back together was easier, he said, because the reredos is 15 feet north of its original location and they don’t have all the unknowns involved with taking the stonework apart piece by piece.
Rooney said each piece of the reredos was numbered as it was disassembled. “The numbering system sequence was from top to bottom piece number 1 being the top, the bottom being number 268.”
Pieces on the left side were given odd numbers and right side even numbers to minimize confusion.
“We took measurements of everything prior to dismantling,” he said.
Thursday, 19 July 2012 14:10
The extended balcony in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is nearing completion. The balcony will be a good viewpoint to see the entire worship space when the scaffolding is removed, a task scheduled for this week.
Chris Baalmann, project manager for Simpson Construction Services, said last week that the trim pieces were being installed in the ambry, the niche in which the holy oils will be kept. The ambry is to be a part of the west confessional at the entrance of the church.
The baptismal font is also taking shape, he said. Marble is being installed around the large cross-shaped font, located under the balcony and below a painting of a dove, representing the Holy Spirit. The expanded balcony will take on some color soon, he added, when workers begin staining the woodwork.
The murals have been installed and the painters’ work is complete, Baalmann said.
The reredos, the decorative altar piece has been reconstructed, and the tabernacle, located within the arch of the reredos is nearly finished. The altar floor was about three-fourths installed late last week. When it is finished – in about a week – work will begin on the altar.
Stone is being installed on the exterior of the gathering space, Baalmann said, as well as windows. The mechanical and electrical work in the space is complete. After the windows are up, gypsum wall panels will be installed.
Electrical and mechanical installation is finished on the third floor of the St. Joseph Pastoral Center where walls are being mudded and taped. The center is the former school building, the easternmost building on the campus. Work progresses on the second floor where gypsum board is being installed. Mechanical units are being installed on the first floor, where rough-in work continues.
Thursday, 05 July 2012 13:28
SVDP, Andover, hosting ‘mobilizing volunteers’ workshop Aug. 11
St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Andover is hosting a Mobilizing Volunteers for Your Ministry Workshop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11.
The workshop, conducted by The Center for Ministry Development, will provide training, resources and consultation for parish ministries that rely on volunteers.
Father Kent Hemberger encouraged parish teams to attend.
“We are providing this workshop for our parish leaders and decided to open registration to all of the parishes within our diocese as it will also be a great opportunity to network and share ideas,” he said in a press release.
The cost of this workshop is $30 per person. Groups of five or more from an individual parish will receive a group rate of $25 per person. Lunch will be provided, along with workshop materials.
Joan Weber will be the featured speaker. For more information, visit the center’s website at www.cmdnet.org/movo.
Thursday, 14 June 2012 09:29
The beauty of the renovations inside the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is being revealed as painters near the end of their work and other workers and craftsmen make progress.
The reredos, the decorative marble artwork behind the altar, is nearing completion. Work has begun on the marble floor in the sanctuary and the painting in the dome is finished.
Chris Baalmann, project manager for Simpson Construction Services, said work is also progressing in the narthex, the entrance to the church, where the millwork in the balcony is nearing completion.
The stained glass windows, which were refurbished by a company in Hutchinson, are back and are being reinstalled. The canvases for the niches on both sides of the altar will be up soon, he said.
Stone is going up on the exterior of the gathering space to the east of the Cathedral where a good portion of the rough-in is complete. Window frames in the space await glazing.
Work is moving along in the St. Joseph Pastoral Center, the building on the northeast corner of the campus. Metal studs are in place on the third floor, Baalmann said, where most of the mechanical above the ceiling and the fire sprinklers are roughed-in. Work has begun on the second and first floors also, he added, with electrical and dry wall to follow.
Thursday, 31 May 2012 13:05
Danville’s new cross proclaims Jesus’ love across the wheat fields
By Tracy Winslow
Immaculate Conception Church in Danville has a new cross for its church steeple that will gleam across the surrounding acreage for many years.
The 100-year-old building originally had a copper cross that had been damaged by the elements, so long time parishioner and manufacturer Greg Blanchat offered his time and talent to make a new cross for the steeple.
He added an interesting twist, though. Inside the new electropolished cross would be just enough room for a time capsule. All of the families of the parish were invited to write about their connection to the parish along with photos.
The three parishes of St. Patrick in Harper, Immaculate Conception in Danville, and Sacred Heart in Anthony were consolidated to form St. Joan of Arc Parish of Harper County in Kansas in 1997. The three churches remain open and retain their names. All of the families were invited to be a part of the time capsule, which includes an explanation of the history of the cross.
“We don’t know if it will be five years or 500 years from now, but someday, someone will appreciate and hopefully be blessed by their efforts,” Blanchat said.
Thursday, 17 May 2012 10:52
Tradition revived May 6 at St. Joe, Arma
In the late ’60s a group of Italian ladies of the parish, led by Emma Pastore, began cooking spaghetti and meatballs for a parish meal served in March around St. Joseph’s feast day.
The cooking and celebration stopped in the late ’80s until recently when Fr. Roger Lumbre, in his first year as pastor, decided it was time for an event that would bring the parish together.
That’s all it took. St. Joseph parishioners decided they would resurrect the spaghetti dinner with the original recipes. Over 400 diners were served including 100 carry-outs.
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