Fr. Simon's Letter - July 25, 2021

You know it is summertime in Chicago when you encounter road construction around the city. Around the QAS campus you will see scaffolding and other construction equipment. This has been our routine for quite a few years now fixing our aging buildings and restoring areas that have endured the harsh winters of Chicago.  

We have started work on the west transept. If you recall, a couple of years ago we had worked on the east transept – the Sacred Heart altar. This was prompted by the discovery of the deterioration of the marble caused by water infiltration. When we opened up the back of the east transept, the situation was worse than we anticipated. The inner brick masonry was compromised and the steel support holding up the canopy above the Sacred Heart altar was corroded and was pulling away from the back wall. We anticipated the same in the west transept. What makes the work on the west transept a little more challenging than the east is the fact that scaffolding on the east was over the flat roof above the sacristy and on the west side it is over the pitched roof of the Mother’s Chapel. We anticipate that the work will be completed by the end of October. Although we have the new marble ready to be installed, we will wait for about six months to allow the moisture after the construction to dry before we proceed. (Please see the pictures of the scope of work on the HERE).

There is also work being done on the north wall of the Keene Avenue building. Last year we had stone spall off the face of the building. You will notice that some stone has been removed. We found twenty-three stones that have to be replaced and the entire area must be tuck-pointed. We will finish this project before school reopens.

The major work for the summer is the completion of the final phase of the Capital Campaign -  the completion of the Parish Center, the Technology Room and the Special Resources room. In next week’s bulletin we will have pictures of the progress of this project. I am happy to say that we haven’t really encountered many surprises. I guess, after working on a project as big as this, by now we can anticipate and prepare for curveballs. We are on schedule to have the Parish Center available by mid-October for the many needs of our parish and school ministries. 

I want to thank you for your continued support of our parish community, and especially for your contribution to the Capital Campaign project. If you have not made a pledge but would like to make a one-time donation to the project, there is still time to do so. If you are behind on the fulfilment of your pledge or would like to increase your pledge or if you have questions regarding the Capital Campaign, please call the parish office. We are fortunate to have such wonderful facilities that were made possible by those who came before us, and it is our duty to pass them on to the next generation. Again, thank you for your generosity and ongoing support of our parish, both now and into the future. 

Blessings!!