WHAT'S HAPPENING AT ST. JOHN'S:
- Dear Clonelians - building project updates
- New cemetery section now open
- CYM Warming Souls - colunteer opportunity
- Blood Drive signups
- St. Blaise blessing of throats next weekend
- The Jack Korbel Confluence concert
*New liturgical ministry schedule for Feb & March is linked at the end of this email!*
Dear Clonmelians,
As we start construction of the new church I wanted to take the opportunity to share some of the work and decisions that have been made behind the scenes that I think many will be excited to have as part of our new church building and campus. In the coming weeks, I will be sharing some elements of how we’ve worked to save money on our build while maintaining the integrity of the church that we presented you with in the colored renderings.
Communion rail - The communion rail will go across the front of the sanctuary, leaving the sides open so as not to close off the sanctuary completely. The two steps into the sanctuary are spaced approximately 3 ft. apart, allowing the priest to walk along the rail for distribution. The recipient of Holy Communion will be kneeling at the same height as the priest, making distribution easier. I know many that are excited about the potential for using the communion rail at Mass.
Apse of the sanctuary - If you remember from the renderings the apse of the sanctuary (the space where the high altar will sit) is rounded and domed. The building committee looked at the option of taking out the rounded domed apse as a cost-saving measure. We decided that this apse is a signature piece of our build & we value our investment in that architectural feature so it will remain.
Rectory location - When we originally laid out the campus we had planned to have the new rectory sit south of the new church. When we had the land surveyed we found that the location was marked as a FEMA flood zone with a risk of flooding. In order to keep the rectory in that location we would have incurred a lot of additional costs and time delays to do the necessary groundwork and get it resurveyed/rezoned and it would have eliminated the possibility of having a basement. A secondary reason that reinforced the decision to move the rectory was that the pastor’s residence would be a little farther from the center of campus, the church itself, and Clonmel Community Club Hall, providing those that live there with greater privacy and less noise.
Fr. Joe
NEW CEMETERY SECTION - NOW OPEN
The new section of our cemetery is open to purchase plots in. Remember we will be raising fees on the plots beginning March 1st!
Current Price: now through February 28, 2023
Parishioner: $250
Non-parishioner: $750
New pricing starting March 1, 2023
Parishioner: $500
Non-parishioner: $1,200
Warming Souls - CYM opportunity
Come help us serve the homeless population in Wichita
On Saturday, February 4th the High School Youth Ministry will be providing a meal at Warming Souls in Wichita. Warming Souls is a homeless shelter that houses and feeds 140 homeless men and women during the Winter months. We will be cooking at St. John's from 3:00-5:00pm. We will carpool from St. John's around 5:00pm and will return around 8:00-8:30pm. All high school students are welcome to join us!
If you or your child is planning on attending please sign up on the sign up genius so that I have an accurate head count, and so that we don't leave without everyone! I hope you'll consider coming, we'd be so happy to have you!
In order to prepare for the meal, I have created a sign up genius for some food items that we will need:
- Mashed Potatoes
- Rolls
- Cakes
The link to sign up to help &/or provide food for the February 4th Warming Souls is:
Our next blood drive is Sunday, January 29th in Clonmel Hall, 9 am-3 pm. Sign up now by clicking the link below! Thanks for participating!
