Rededication:
A time to rejoice at Blessed Sacrament Parish

	Bishop Robert C. Morlino recently presided at a rededication Mass at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Madison. The parish has completed a renovation of the church interior. Here the bishop anoints the new altar with chrism as his assistant, John Gordon, left, and Fr. Patrick Norris, pastor, look on. (Catholic Herald photo by Abigail Henderson)

By Julianne Nornberg
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- The third Sunday of Advent signifies a time to rejoice - and that's exactly what members of Blessed Sacrament Parish here were doing at a Dec. 13 Mass of rededication of the church.

The parish recently completed a more than $500,000 church interior renewal project, which is part of Vision 2000, a five-year long renewal project that includes renovation of the former convent to become the parish center.

In June of 2002, a group of parishioners and parish staff led by Fr. Stan Drongowski, pastor at the time, formed a Church Interior Committee that explored the best options for the restoration, which included: the removal of paneling behind the altar; improvement of lighting and acoustics; provision of handicapped accessibility; replacement of the baptismal font; installation of a new tile floor; restoration of stained glass windows that were returned to their original place behind the altar, and new stained glass windows for the choir loft.

A new altar, ambo, presider's chair, and cushioned pews were also a part of the renovation, with gifts from the Rosary Altar Society and anonymous donors.

The designer for the project was E.J. Potente of the Studios of Potente, Kenosha. The general contractors were parishioners Mark Landgraf and Jerry Heinrichs. The new windows for the choir loft were designed by Franz Schroeder.

The last time the church had any renovation done was in the early 1970s, said Pat Hobbins-Kemps, parish manager, who headed the Church Interior Committee with Sr. Virginia Smith, liturgist.

A time to rejoice

After a process marked at times with anxiety but mostly triumph and the help of many people - some of whom remained anonymous - the church interior project culminated in a beautiful Mass and celebration highlighting the efforts of all involved.   Full story ...

	Holiday events ... • Schedule of holiday events in Diocese of Madison (from 12/18/2003 Edition)
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PRAIRIE DU SAC -- Mother Paula Hannah, a Cistercian Sister who is prioress of Valley of Our Lady Monastery here, announced that a $7 million capital campaign would be conducted to build a monastery near Highland on a 210-acre farm.

Marcella and Harvey Yero, who read in the Madison Catholic Herald about the need for a new monastery and a search for land on which to build it, donated the farm to the nuns last year.

Kurtis D. Welton, president and treasurer of Welton Enterprises, a Madison-based real estate development company, accepted the position as the campaign general chairman.   Full story ...