Because of a tree...

The tree pictured above was once located on our grounds. It was so nice that eveyone agreed that the church should be built around it.

The original design called for the church to be built east of the tree, a new parish office to be built to the north and a new rectory to be built to the west. Everything would be built around this tree.

As costs and budgets were considered, the idea of building a new parish office and rectory were put off with the idea that they could possibly be added later.

But the church was built to the east of the tree. Grass was left around the tree. Stairs were built between the west parking lot and the church. It was designed to flow to the south of the tree and leave space in case we ever added the rectory later.

A few years later, the tree died.

 

So we built a courtyard and added a bell tower.

The stairs have been patched in the meantime, but they simply need to be replaced.

But now, as we consider the space, wouldn't it make more sense to build the steps in the center of the courtyard and parking lot instead of to the south? After all, we have no plans to build a new rectory on the courtyard.

 At the same time, we can add some more landscaping.

That would include landscaping the south end of the courtyard.

Each year a Helping Hands Project is chosen to be supported at Columb's Ceili. Last year that project was to remodel the bathrooms in the church.

This year that project is entitled "Creating Disciples Step by Step." The plan is to add new steps between the west parking lot and the courtyard and landscape the area. So Saturday night at Columb's Ceili we are asking our guests to contribute to his cause. If you are not attending Ceili but would still like to help, please contact Deacon David.