St.MaryoftheImmaculateConception 512N.

PerkinsStreet Rushville,IN46173

St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception

Catholic Church

SketchofProposedNewBackAltarfortheTabernacle
ExistingGospelWritersArtworkandCrucifixtobePreservedandReused

PreservingOurHeritage
2013CapitalCampaign

PreservingOurHeritage: :TheTimeHasCome,TheNeedisNow
InOctoberoflastyear,theRestorationCommitteereconvenedtoresumew workingtowardcompletinginteriorrestorationwork.Itwasunanimouslydecidedtodiscontinuepursuing ourpastmasterplan,whichdrasticallychangedthechurchsinteriorlayou ut.Overthenextfewmonthsasimplifiedplanwasagreeduponwithfourmaincomponents.Thepurposeof theseprojectsistomaintainourfacilitiesandprovideamorewelcomingan ndcomfortableatmosphereforourparishionersandguests

ChurchWalls
Throughoutourfacilitiestherearewallsthatneed repairandupdating.Theplanisto:repairdamaged plasterthroughoutthechurchsinterior,repaint interior,andaddartisticdetailsinoursanctuary.

HandicappedEntrance
Tomakeourchurchaccessibletoall,anewnorth vestibulewillbeaddedtothechurchforbetter handicapaccessibility.Itwillincludepushbutton openersandADAcompliantdoorways.

Flooring
Therearemanyopportunitiesforimprovementwith ourfacilitysflooring.Theplanistoremoveexisting carpetandinstallnewsubfloorsoverasbestostile, installnewcarpetinaisleway,newtileorhardwood surfacebeneathpewsandstepsintosanctuary.We plantoremovethebuiltupfloorinthemusicarea.

A Message from Father Jeremy Gries

WhenIfirstenteredStMaryschurchbackinAprilof2011,enroutetobecomeyournewpastor,Iwasstruck bythebeautyofthechurch,therichwoodpews,thelovelystainedglasswindowsandthetraditionallayout. Itreallyisamagnificentbuilding.Iwasalsostruckbythethoughtthatthebuildinglookedalittletiredand worn.

Myinitialimpressionswerequicklycorroboratedbydiscussionswithparishioners.Youtooloveyourchurch, butrealizeitisreadyforsomeTLC.Wearetiredofthecrumblingplaster,peelingpaint,poppedfloortilesand runsinthecarpet.Wesufferedandsweatedthrough100Fdayswheretherearenotenoughfansintheworld. Werealizetheneedforgreaterhandicapaccessintothechurchandhandrailsintothesanctuary.Manyhave evenaskedmewhytheTabernaclewasevermovedfromitscentrallocationinthechurchandourfaithlives.

Sanctuary
Someoftheprimaryprojectsforthesanctuarywouldbe: Relocatethetabernacletothesanctuarycenter,ontheeastwall,ina newlyconstructedaltar,incorporatingexistingGospelWriter artwork Realignthestairstepsintosanctuaryandinstallhandrailsfor greateraccessibility PurchasenewPresiderschairpluschairsforserverandminister CleanandrestoreallstatuesandStationsoftheCross Installupdatedaudiosystemandupdatedsanctuaryspotlights Establishabaptisteryarea

Withthewonderfulceilinginstalledinthespringof2011,itistimetobringthebeautyondowntotherestof thechurchbuilding.Sinceatleast2000,thisparishhasmadestridestowardrestoringthechurch.You managedtoreplacetheroofshingles,repairtheexteriorbrickandrenovatetheinteriorceilingandlights.You havecomefar.Thisspringwewillcompletetheinstallationofthenewheatingandcoolingsystem.

Aswebringthislongsoughtdesireoftheparishtoareality,Imcallingonallparishionerstostepupanddo theirpart.TogetherwiththePreservingourHeritageCampaignCommittee,Iaminviting,encouragingand askingforyourfinancialandspiritualsupport.Weallhavedifferentabilities,butweareallcalledbyGodto share.IrecentlyreadaquotebyPopeLeotheGreat.Inthematterofalmsgiving,notonlytherichand affluentbutalsothoseofaveragemeansandthepoorareabletoplaytheirpart.Thosewhoareunequalin theircapacitytogivecanbeequalintheloveintheirhearts.LetusallloveGoddeeplyandsacrificially accordingtoourmeans.Ihavepersonallyplannedtomakeasacrificialgifttowardtherestorationofthe churchandsohavetheCampaignCommitteemembers.Joinme,jointheCampaignCommitteemembers,and joinintheworkofStMarys.

Prayerfully,pledgeyourfinancialsupporttorefreshourbelovedStMarysChurch.Together,letusPreserve ourHeritageforfuturegenerations!