Blog

We have windows! While not all of the windows are installed yet, most of them are in and they’re adding a beautiful glimpse of what our church will soon look like!

This little corner gives a good look at the progress on the exterior. There’s a lot happening quickly but it’s all coming together nicely!

Most of the windows are in but this glimpse shows us that there’s still progress to come.

The light from the new windows really brightens up the interior!

Even the bell tower looks brighter thanks to the brand new window!

Look at all the light coming in through the smaller windows!

One half of the building is still completely closed in but that other half gives us a look at what kind of light we can expect once all the windows are in. And…we have drywall! While it’s not yet installed, it has been delivered and that means we’re getting close!

Tradition tells us that it’s good luck to leave a coin in the walls or foundations of buildings that are being built or renovated. So, in an effort to recognize how blessed and lucky we’ve been as a parish and to bring a bit of good luck for the future, St. Jude parishioners collected coins to place in the walls of our building.

It is likely that another major renovation will not take place for another century or so and so the present day parishioners of St. Jude left a letter, along with our coins, for the next generations of parishioners to find. We wanted to share that letter with you here. While it it is likely that everyone involved in our current renovation will have long gone Home before the next major renovation, it is our hope that the next people opening up the walls will be doing so with the intention of maintaining our building for the generations of parishioners to come and maybe even in celebration of our 200th anniversary or beyond.

We asked our contractors to place our jar containing our coins and letter somewhere within the walls. Our only request was that it be placed somewhere within the original and oldest part of the building and that it be placed in an exterior wall. Our contractor decided that it just felt right to place it in the center window in the sacristy and we couldn’t agree more. This means that it will be in the center of the three original windows on that wall and will be directly behind the altar and underneath the crucifix. We really can’t think of a better place for this little piece of the 2023 parish to reside for the years to come.