St. Mary's in Storm Lake undergoes renovation

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Sept. 21, 2006

STORM LAKE - Renovation is underway at St. Mary's Church in Storm Lake.

"The parish has been talking about doing this for year's - since Father Arts was here as pastor and Father Boes, also," noted Father Bruce Lawler, current pastor at St. Mary's. "Father Schimmer did the campaign to raise money - so it's been a long time in coming to fruition."

St. Mary's, under the pastoral leadership of Father Robert Schimmer, had raised a good portion of the money for this project when it ran a local campaign in conjunction with the Diocesan Centennial Campaign about five years ago.

After Father Lawler arrived, a committee continued the process of evaluating the needs and goals of the project.

One of the needs associated with the renovation was resolving a water leakage problem. The committee also decided that they wanted to replace some items that were showing signs of age.

"Obviously, after 50 years of wear and tear, things were worn out - carpet and floor tiles," he explained. "We had those two perimeters and then we started asking liturgical questions about the building which was designed with good foresight but not perfect foresight by Msgr. (Cleophas John) Ivis (pastor when the church was built) and his consultants."

The committee investigated how they might improve the building for liturgical worship.

"We looked at what had been done and how it served the existing liturgy and from there we looked at the basic layout of the building and the furnishings of the building and where things are placed," noted Father Lawler.

For instance, when the church was built, nothing was done during Mass at the presider's chair. Everything had been done at the altar or lectern. The presider's chair sat on floor level, which didn't allow the celebrant to see the congregation when he was seated.

"We looked at the design of the platform and decided that the whole platform should be raised rather than just the place where the altar was or the old pulpit," said the pastor.

He acknowledged that while Communion rails are sometimes much loved, it was taken down because it no longer served a purpose. This will enable greater ease of ministers getting in and out of sanctuary. While people will notice a change in appearance, the priest believes they will see that it fits the "nature of the building. It will be more functional than the previous arrangement."

A new presider's chair, ambo and altar are part of the plan.

"The new altar will be made from the existing altar as will the ambo," said Father Lawler. "They are being designed to fit proportionately in the space."

Renovation will include new carpeting in the aisles, new flooring under the pews and hard surface in the sanctuary instead of carpet. The walls will receive a fresh coat of paint.

Presently, Iowa Prison Ministries in Fort Madison are refinishing the pews. The color of the stain is changing to match the woodwork of the new addition at the entrance of the church.

About a year ago St. Mary's added a vesting sacristy, a conference room, and remodeled the two bathrooms located near the entryway. Earlier renovation also included increasing the gathering space at the main entrance to the church. The entrance and bathrooms were made handicap accessible at that time.

Renovation to the main body of the church started in July. The pews were among the first items to be removed. Initially the congregation celebrated Mass in St. Mary's School gym, but moved to the auditorium in the public school.

"We hope at some point to construct a chapel for Our Lady of Guadalupe," noted Father Lawler, who added that it will be located near the present south entrance. "We will take an existing entryway and turn it into a chapel."

There are plans to convert the present baptismal font area into a reconciliation chapel. A new baptismal font will be placed near the sanctuary. They opted to move the font from the currant alcove because most of the baptisms take place during Mass.

He mentioned that they continue to evaluate some details such as the placement of the choir.

Original plans called for the project to be completed at the end of November and Father Lawler has hopes that it will remain on schedule.

The pastor mentioned that they are still in the process of raising funds for this project.

"We are encouraging people to contribute toward refinishing the pews - adopt a pew or ask people to make memorials for some of the sanctuary furnishings," he said. "Plus, we are still short money to do the north and south entries that we would like to do at some point."