St. Bridget Catholic Church Feasibility Study
Thank you for your providing your honest feedback. Below is the vision statement created by your leadership. Please answer the questions based on this statement.
St. Bridgets Catholic Church was founded by Father Philip Colleton, SJ, as a mission in 1868 “in favor of coal miners and farmers”. The first Mass was said in the John O’Malley home located east of where the first church was to be built the following year. The Irish names turn up continually in the history of Saint Bridget, as it was in the Murphy house that the Sacrament of Confirmation first took place in 1872. Land was obtained for the church construction from the Kennedy family, 1/2 mile east of Scammon, which was at that time called Scammonville. When the church was completed in 1908, it proved to be a large, beautiful brick structure. A fine new rectory followed during the tenure of Father T.J. Herley who stayed at Saint Bridget from 1903 until 1912. These early events and buildings happened because the generations before us were passionate about their Catholic faith and had the vision to build the structures that were worthy .
As the parish grew, our forefathers saw the need for a larger church which was built near the cemetery. Father Eugene Bonocini enlarged it twice, adding a parochial school and Father M.J. Casey enlarged it again when the need demanded. The present parish facility, a two-story structure, includes a brick hall which went up in 1948, contains classrooms, a kitchen, and an auditorium. The most recent activity at St. Bridget’s included a complete renovation in of the church in 1985. The current pastor is Father Chris Martin.
Throughout St. Bridget’s history, the parish members have provided the leadership, the vision, and their passion for their Catholic faith, along with their labor and financial support to grow and enhance our Catholic community. Without the generations before us, we would not have the facilities, the education, and the opportunities to practice our Catholic faith and grow in our religious journey as a parish and as individuals.
Our vision Now, more than 150 years after that first Catholic Mass in the area, there is a real need to take care of our beloved St Bridgets church. This beautiful church, built and maintained by our ancestors, is in need of deferred maintenance and renovations to insure it is here for the generations here today and to follow. The work that has been identified by our parish leadership will make St. Bridgets even more welcoming, efficient, and effective for our parish families and our guests and make it the beautiful church we all believe it should be.
The work being planned includes:
· New flooring
· HVAC work
· Plasterwork Paint
· Lighting
· New entry doors
· Renovate the choir loft
· Move baptismal font to front of church
· Rework stairway to be more accessible
· Work on pews that need repaired
· Roof replacement to alleviate water leakage
Total estimated costs for this work are $1.1 million. We are already approximately 1/3 of the way there due to your generosity!
Our future St. Bridgets has a strong history of providing a beautiful church and buildings to grow our faith. It has a history of its parishioners taking care of its structures and creating spaces where we can gather safely and joyfully to grow and celebrate our Catholic faith.
We have come together through the years on building projects, renovations, missions, education, and service to our community and parish. It is time to come together again to bring our church back to its true beauty. Like our ancestors, it is our turn to give back to our church through the many gifts God has given us. limitless. We urge members to participate by providing feedback on this vision and by praying for the future of our parish. Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.
Proverbs 16:3
As the parish grew, our forefathers saw the need for a larger church which was built near the cemetery. Father Eugene Bonocini enlarged it twice, adding a parochial school and Father M.J. Casey enlarged it again when the need demanded. The present parish facility, a two-story structure, includes a brick hall which went up in 1948, contains classrooms, a kitchen, and an auditorium. The most recent activity at St. Bridget’s included a complete renovation in of the church in 1985. The current pastor is Father Chris Martin.
Throughout St. Bridget’s history, the parish members have provided the leadership, the vision, and their passion for their Catholic faith, along with their labor and financial support to grow and enhance our Catholic community. Without the generations before us, we would not have the facilities, the education, and the opportunities to practice our Catholic faith and grow in our religious journey as a parish and as individuals.
Our vision Now, more than 150 years after that first Catholic Mass in the area, there is a real need to take care of our beloved St Bridgets church. This beautiful church, built and maintained by our ancestors, is in need of deferred maintenance and renovations to insure it is here for the generations here today and to follow. The work that has been identified by our parish leadership will make St. Bridgets even more welcoming, efficient, and effective for our parish families and our guests and make it the beautiful church we all believe it should be.
The work being planned includes:
· New flooring
· HVAC work
· Plasterwork Paint
· Lighting
· New entry doors
· Renovate the choir loft
· Move baptismal font to front of church
· Rework stairway to be more accessible
· Work on pews that need repaired
· Roof replacement to alleviate water leakage
Total estimated costs for this work are $1.1 million. We are already approximately 1/3 of the way there due to your generosity!
Our future St. Bridgets has a strong history of providing a beautiful church and buildings to grow our faith. It has a history of its parishioners taking care of its structures and creating spaces where we can gather safely and joyfully to grow and celebrate our Catholic faith.
We have come together through the years on building projects, renovations, missions, education, and service to our community and parish. It is time to come together again to bring our church back to its true beauty. Like our ancestors, it is our turn to give back to our church through the many gifts God has given us. limitless. We urge members to participate by providing feedback on this vision and by praying for the future of our parish. Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.
Proverbs 16:3