Stay up to date with the St. Jude Church Sanctuary Remodel Project
Scroll to see pictures of the project, a timeline of the project,
catch up on the Sanctuary Remodel Committee Meeting Mintues, and more!

Flooring installation to be completed by Corridor Hardwood in Iowa City
Tabernacle shelf designed, built, and installed by parishioner Bernie Nachazel
Handrailing designed and build by Ben Schatzel

September 20, 2023
All of the flooring has been installed. The next step is to finish sanding the entire floor in preperation for staining. Once stained, several coats of polyurethane will be added. These coats will then cure and harden for a week to protect the floor for years to come.

September 15, 2023
The flooring is over halfway installed.

September 5, 2023
Parishioner Bernie Nachazel began sanding and preparing the Baptismal Font for a fresh stain.

August 29, 2023
The first pieces of the new hardwood floor were installed.

August 22, 2023
Parishioner Bernie Nachazel installed the tabernacle shelf in the sanctuary.

August 21, 2023
Corridor Hardwood started the installation. They removed the carpet and began preparing the sanctuary floor for the hardwood to be installed.

August 19-20, 2023
Weekend Masses were celebrated in Thaddeus Hall.

August 18, 2023
Morning Mass was celebrated in Thaddeus Hall.
Finished preparing the church for the renovation. Building and Grounds volunteers took time to dust the stone wall. This was done with a scissor lift and an air compressor.

August 17, 2023
Moved all necessary liturgical items such as linens, communion vessels, the processional cross weekday Masses, weekend Masses, and funerals from the sacristy to accessible places. Set up the liturgical environment. The sound system was also set up in Thaddeus Hall. Items that could not be removed from the church, such as the organ and sound cabinets from the church were covered. The altar, ambo, and presider’s and deacon’s chair were removed from the sanctuary space into an aisle for safe keeping during the flooring installation.

August 16, 2023
The Sweet Corn Festival items were removed from Thaddues Hall over the last few days.
Liturgical Environment and other volunteers set up chairs for the assembly, moved in a small altar, an ambo, a presider’s and a deacons’ chair, and the piano, and other small tables into Thaddeus Hall.

The Thaddues Room walls were taken down and the entirety of Thaddeus Hall and the old kitchen, including the back room, were prepared for liturgical needs by moving out extra items. Thaddues Hall and the kitchen areas were cleaned, including the sinks, countertops, and floors.

August 13, 2023: Bulletin Excerpt
Immediately following the festival, our project to replace the flooring in the sanctuary, as well as to rearrange some of our furnishings, add a handrail, and place the Tabernacle in the sanctuary, will begin.  All of our liturgies will take place in Thaddeus Hall for six weeks.  Some of you may remember celebrating there yourselves.  It has only been 34 years that the current space has been used.  May our brief return to Thaddeus bring back some happy memories.  

August 7, 2023
Liturgical ministers were notified of forthcoming changes and updates to their ministry practices for Masses to be celebrated in Thaddeus Hall.
The office staff began implementing plans, finalizing preparations, and organizing volunteers to assist in the set-up of Thaddeus Hall immediately following the Sweet Corn Festival.

July 17, 2023
A test of the Thaddeus Hall sound system was conducted and determined to be sufficient for Mass needs.

July 2023
Notices of the Sanctuary Remodel flooring installation dates and Mass location change to Thaddeus Hall began running in the bulletin.

June 15, 2023: Liturgy Committee Meeting
The committee met in Thaddeus Hall and began planning how Mass in Thaddeus Hall will be during the upcoming remodel and flooring installation. They determined the following:
                -Locations of liturgical furniture such as the altar, ambo, and presider’s chair
                -Location of musicians
-Seating arrangement including the number of rows, handicap seating, and where the aisles would be located
-The goal is to accommodate 300 people in Thaddeus Hall
-Main entrance will be through the west door facing the parking lot.

May 2023:
The office staff began drafting plans and determining needs for Masses celebrated in Thaddeus Hall

March 19, 2023: Bulletin Column
Dear Friends in Christ,

In my homily last weekend, I invited everyone to pray daily for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our parish.  I really think this is a prayer that God wants to answer, and that we should open our hearts to receive it willingly.  We have such an important mission as a Catholic parish, and only the Holy Spirit can give us what we really need to fulfill it.  Our mission is nothing less than to make disciples of Jesus, starting from within our sphere of influence and then moving out from there.  As Jesus said in the Gospel passage last weekend, "look up and see the harvest is ready!"  Please join me in praying every day until Pentecost (May 28) for this fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon us.  

I am happy to share that our sanctuary remodel project has been approved by the Archdiocese, and we are able to proceed.  I hope to be able to share a timeline soon.  I'm grateful for all the help as we developed our plans, especially for the work that our ad hoc committee did.  We plan to install a hardwood floor in the sanctuary.  As you may have already read on the minutes tab of the parish website, the floor will be a light color oak, with a contrasting walnut trim around the border and the edge of the steps.  The wood will be finished with a clear coat to enhance the natural look of the material.  The sanctuary floors at St. Elizabeth, St. Joseph, and the new floor at St. Matthew are all similar to what we will have.  

The solution to our tabernacle placement is an oak shelf that has been designed to fit over the right-hand stone shelf built into the sanctuary wall (in between the center artwork and the Risen Christ).  This allows us to create a very secure attachment for the tabernacle without altering the stone wall in any way.  In addition, we look forward to having the ambo nearer to the choir area, and the presider's chair on the right-hand side.  A handrail is being designed and will be placed between the ambo and the altar, so that the steps will be easier to use with confidence and security.  

The total cost of the project will be around $65,000.  We have a couple of gifts pledged towards this amount, but I want to offer anyone who would like to contribute towards this project to do so at any time now.  This is a unique opportunity to be a part of enhancing our worship space for years to come.  It's going to look incredible, and it will draw Jesus in the mystery of the Holy Eucharist all the more to the center of our life as a parish family.  

While we plan to renew what is seen, let the Lord renew what is unseen as well.  I pray that your Lent has been a season of spiritual growth, and that everything we do continues to be a blessing to the poor, and to catechumens and candidates.  

Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Nick

February 26, 2023: Bulletin Announcement
The Sanctuary Remodel Committee and the Pastoral Council have both approved a plan for the changes to the St. Jude Church sanctuary, including a hardwood flooring solution, as well as new locations for the tabernacle, ambo, presider's chair, and a new handrail.  The plan is currently under review by the Archdiocese.  

February 16, 2023: Pastoral Council Meeting
The Sanctuary Remodel and tabernacle plans were reviewed and unanimously approved.
                Wood shelf to be placed over an existing stone shelf and will be implemented by this summer.

January 31, 2023: Sanctuary Remodel Committee Meeting

November 1, 2022: Sanctuary Remodel Committee Meeting

October 31, 2022: Bulletin Column
Our Sanctuary Remodel Committee continues to make steady progress.  We spent most of our last meeting reviewing the input from the parish survey.  It was great to learn more about the history of the parish, and what's on the minds and hearts of its people today.  The impression that we drew the most clearly from the input was the overall desire of the people to retain our current art, namely:  the Risen Christ, the Burning Bush, and the Dove.  This representation of the persons of the Holy Trinity makes the parish sanctuary unique, and for many people, that is worth saving.  This perspective wasn't unanimous, but there was such a strong preference in this regard that as a Committee, we felt confident sharing that our final plan will include the retention of our artwork.  This also helps us to move forward in the consideration of the other elements, as it narrows the scope of the whole project considerably.  Thanks for your continued prayers as we keep moving forward.  

I was also asked to unfold more of the rationale for the relocation of the tabernacle into the sanctuary as a part of this project.  As you probably know, there are two places a tabernacle can be situated in a church:  somewhere in the sanctuary, or somewhere else--usually a chapel or another suitable place for prayer.  The decision or the preference is left up to the bishop.  Our archbishop has a clear preference (expressed verbally and in writing) for the tabernacle to be placed in the sanctuary, whenever that is possible, especially when other changes are being made.  

While I can't speak for him, I can say why I think this makes sense.  Having the tabernacle in the sanctuary of a Catholic Church fills the whole worship space that much more fully and immediately with the Real Presence of Christ.  It places him at the front and center of the awareness of the parish, which is a visual and spatial way of communicating our belief that he truly is at the head of the Church and is the center of everything we believe and do.  It gives young people living in our visual age today a clear point of focus and an invitation to relationship with Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament.  It simplifies some of the moments and movement during the celebration of the Mass.  It clarifies one of the basic, distinctive Catholic practices: where and when and in what direction to genuflect (if one's health permits it at all!)  Finally, I would say that it satisfies the longing heart which searches restlessly for the loving presence of the Savior, Friend, and Lover of the Soul (see Song of Songs 3:4 and John 20: 1-2, 13).  

This is not to say that an unwise decision was made thirty years ago, or that the silence and intimacy of the current chapel is not a good thing.  On the contrary, I will miss that closeness in my own prayer before the Lord.  But for the sake of the reasons above, I pray that this eventual relocation of the tabernacle at St. Jude Church brings many other blessings to our parish.  May the Lord Jesus strengthen us with his mighty love, so that we can bring that love farther out into a world filled with pain and violence.  Only his love is greater than hatred.  Only he can restore what the Evil One has torn apart.  Let us fall down at the feet of Christ who is so available to us at all times, offering reparation for sins against his love, with tears of contrition and gratitude.  "May the heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored, and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time.  Amen."

Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Nick

October 13, 2022: Sanctuary Remodel Committee Meeting

October 2, 2022 Bulletin Column Excerpt
Thank you for the responses to our Parishioner Input Survey on the Sanctuary Remodel project.  As I write this, we are preparing to take the survey offline and begin to tabulate the responses.  I've peeked at them a little as they've come in, and I'm so grateful for the guidance you're offering, which will help our committee determine the scope and direction of what we eventually propose.  Above all, your love for your parish, its history, and its future, are fully evident.  

September 2022: The Sanctuary Remodel Parishioner Input Survey
In the September 4, 2022 bulletin, it was announced that we will be doing some remodeling in our sanctuary, which is the space generally bounded by the steps leading up to the area and includes the altar, ambo, presider’s chair, and the wall behind it. To help guide the members of the Remodel Committee, we ask that you provide input to us by Tuesday, September 27.
The Remodel Committee, composed of Fr. Nick March, Gary Strauss, Carol Cunningham, Scott LeGrand, and Michelle Tressel, is interested in your input as we begin our discussions.  No decisions have been made about particulars.  
The scope of the project includes installing new flooring and moving the tabernacle to the sanctuary.  Other actions are also being brainstormed (e.g. changing the flooring in the choir area to match the sanctuary) but no decisions have been made.
Question 1: As we consider new flooring for the sanctuary, what suggestions do you have (e.g. carpet vs. hard surface; color ideas) or things you recommend we avoid?
Question 2: The tabernacle will be moved from the Reservation Chapel to the sanctuary.  What ideas do you have on the location of the tabernacle within the sanctuary? 
Question 3: As we think about our ambo, altar, presider’s chair, what suggestions do you have regarding things to do or avoid, and churches to visit which have excellent furnishings?
Question 4: As we think about artistic expressions, what are your thoughts about our liturgical art; representing the Father (flames of the burning bush), the Son (the Risen Christ) and the Holy Spirit (the dove)?
Question 5: How could we improve acoustics?
Question 6: How could we improve safety?
Question 7: How could we improve accessibility?
Question 8: Are there any other thoughts you wish to share regarding the remodeling of the sanctuary?

September 25, 2022: Bulletin Column Excerpt
I'd like to keep drawing your attention to our Parishioner Input Survey on the Sanctuary Remodel project. Your advice and ideas are very welcome as we are still at the very beginning of this work.  We'd like the survey input to be completed by September 27.  There are only two points of the project that are really "set in stone," and everything else is a question of what seems appropriate, feasible, affordable, beautiful, etc.  The two fixed parts of the project are the need to replace the sanctuary flooring (required by a recent safety inspection) and the preference of the Archdiocese to have our tabernacle in the sanctuary when a remodeling project is undertaken.  Should we remodel the sanctuary any further than that?  This is your chance to weigh in.  

I am very attentive to the fact that we are working hard (and succeeding!) at retiring our debt on the Community Center.  I do not want to jeopardize that important work, and I certainly do not want to add to our indebtedness.  My thinking is that this project should be kept small enough that a number of sources will cover the cost:  restricted gifts towards liturgy and environment, and unrestricted memorials and other gifts.  

September 20, 2022: Sanctuary Remodel Committee Meeting

September 4, 2022: Bulletin Column
Dear friends in Christ,

I have a couple of liturgy-related items to share with you:

Our livestreaming of weekend Mass has been irregular as I've had trouble operating the technology.  I'm working on setting up a better system for this.  In the meantime, I'd like to ask if there are any volunteers to set up, start, and finish the livestream at the 4:30pm Saturday Masses.  

Secondly, we need to do some remodeling in our sanctuary, which is the entire area surrounding the altar.  The carpet is gathering up there and is creating a trip hazard.  It cannot be stretched further than it already is; it needs to be replaced.  There has also been discussion about the possibility of swapping the positions of the Celebrant's Chair and Ambo, for the sake of greater visibility of the Lector and closer proximity to the choir area.  Our Pastoral Council has further recommended that we move the tabernacle from the Reservation Chapel to the sanctuary, which happens to be the same recommendation of the Archdiocese when remodeling a sanctuary.  I accept this recommendation and intend to implement it.    

In order to figure out a plan for making all the decisions about things like flooring color and material, how to locate the tabernacle, and whether to make any other changes, I've asked four members of the parish to comprise a Remodel Committee.  They are: Scott LeGrand, Carol Cunningham, Gary Strauss, and Michelle Tressel.  For the sake of transparency, we will share the notes from our meetings over the next several months.  Ultimately, my goal is for this group to present a plan to the Pastoral Council for a final recommendation.  We welcome ideas and thoughts from the whole parish, and will try to provide an official way to offer those ideas.  Until then, you are always welcome to visit with any one of us.  

This effort will be a fine way to mark the 60th anniversary of the parish, in addition to the national effort for a Eucharistic Revival.  I think we will have a result that will place the Lord more clearly at the center of everything we do.  Thank you for your prayers for God's inspiration as we seek to worship him in Spirit and truth!

Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Nick

August 30, 2022: First Sanctuary Remodel Committee Meeting