Search
Lent and Building Updates
-
April 7, 2019Dear parishioners and friends,
As we near the end of our 40 days, Nativity parishioners are demonstrating once again a commitment to Lent as a journey toward holiness.
Through prayerful participation in daily and weekend Masses, Friday Stations of the Cross and Compline, and the Lenten Morning of Reflection; generous contributions to the Girl Scouts’ Keystone Food Drive and the many helping hands at the Family Service Morning; and individual works of charity, penance, and prayer — Nativity parishioners are preparing themselves well for the Holy Week that will be upon us soon.
“Be gentle with yourself, be gentle with others, and never stop striving to be all that God created you to be: the-verybest-version-of-yourself.”— From Matthew Kelly’s Best Lent Ever
I also want to let you know that work continues on issues surrounding the spalling and paint bubbling on the stone walls in the upper church. The first step included extensive testing to identify potential structural deficiencies and compile recommended solutions.
To that end, a noted masonry company performed a week of testing on the interior and exterior stone, masonry, window frames and supporting columns last fall, and then presented a comprehensive testing and observation report to Nativity’s Building and Grounds Committee.
This report primarily identified water infiltration areas and formulated recommendations for a permanent solution to the moisture penetration.
In the last few weeks, our committee has reviewed the report, drawn in additional engineers and mortar experts, and conferred with past contractors.
In addition to myself, the committee includes Nativity of Our Lord trustee Dan Flanagan, parish Business Administrator Laura Barr, Facilities Director Steve Boatman, and numerous volunteer parishioners specializing in engineering, masonry, facilities management, law, and finance.
Each of us is committed to undertaking a thoughtful and exhaustive approach to recommended next steps, including a fair and thorough bidding process. I will keep you informed as this process progresses.
If you have comments for the Building and Grounds Committee, please direct your remarks to my assistant, Tim Huberty, at info@nativity-mn.org, who will forward all comments to the committee and me.
Christ’s blessings on you and your family during our continued Lenten journey.
— FPH
This article appeared in the Sunday, April 7 parish bulletin.
