Last night, Father Hilton and architect Adam Hermanson chaired a great Town Hall Meeting. Adam led us through the Pre-Design Summary Document, which detailed the schedule and budget for the project. He then reviewed the project goals, including the two design principles set by the committee. Adam and Father both explained that these design principles will affect everything we do in the space.
OVERALL DESIGN PRINCIPLES
Noble Beauty
- Reflecting the beauty of He who is beautiful – the beauty of God
- Authenticity of materials used throughout.
- Beauty that ennobles the participant. Beauty itself is noble – raising us above the level of common experience.
- Harmony, Proportion, Color, Shape, Balance, and Form – in total, a Well-Ordered Space
- Understanding to whom we offer our very best: to and for the Lord Himself.
Greater Verticality
- Efforts should be made to increase the vertical orientation and emphasis within the liturgical space.
- Church currently feels rather horizontal. Better vertical emphasis will raise our eyes to the Lord.
FIRST ORDER GOALS
- Retain Current Seating Capacity – Or Expand If Possible
- Provide Full Accessibility so all will feel welcome as they enter and move through the church.
- Improve the Thermal Comfort Systems
- Provide Proper Accommodation for Music Ministry
- Increase the Interior Visibility of the Celebration of the Eucharist
SECOND ORDER GOALS
- Establish a Visible and Permanent Sign of our Baptism
- Improved Lighting
- Visibility of the Church from the Exterior
After Adam’s presentation, Father Hilton opened the floor to questions. A score of parishioners stepped up to the microphone to share comments, concerns and questions. We discussed many different topics, including:
- carpeted versus hard floors
- space for the ushers
- crowd control outside the confessionals
- options for pews and kneelers
- sanctuary furnishing
- saints and angels
- what to do about the cry room.
Many people commented on the need to increase handicapped access, which dove-tailed nicely with one of the committee’s first order goals. We also discussed the problems and opportunities connected with the overflow space. Father Hilton did guarantee that we would not change to a ‘church in the round’ arrangement. Father asked if he could keep the avocado green in the confessionals, but the feedback wasn’t pretty.
For me, the surprise of the evening was the discussion about restoring bells to the church. Before the meeting, a few commenters had mentioned the old bell system, but I didn’t know the history of bells at Holy Trinity. It was good for the committee to hear a request for church bells from so many people. That is a great example of why we had the meeting.
We’ll have the electronic version of the Pre-Design Summary Document posted here as soon as possible. I took four pages of notes, which I must transcribe for the committee, but I’ll share them here too.
Again — Thanks to all who came to our meeting, and to Kayla and the others who provided the hospitality.
Great meeting. Thank you. I think Father Hilton and the committee made everyone feel very comfortable with sharing their thoughts. They were all good listeners.
The most pleasant part of the meeting for me was meeting the Architect (Adam) and seeing that he loves the Church and understands what is important in Catholic worship. That really put me at ease.
I am happy with the direction the team is taking and with the goals as they are now.
I was pretty confused, though, by the answer Jackie gave regarding the use of the choir loft as a choir loft. She seemed to be saying that is not an option/permitted (?!) Yet choir lofts have been used for centuries and continue to be used effectively in thousands of Catholic churches in the US.
– I think we need more discussion on that.
The cry room was a pretty big theme last night, I thought.
I have a couple more comments about that.
I want to point out that the issue of access should apply to the cry-room as well. Handicapped parents and children should have access to a cry-room just like anyone else.
Also, the fact that the space there is so large means that it is used as overlow for the Overflow. I have seen this done at many Masses. That essentially deprives parents of a place to go with the children who need management and is stressful for nursing mothers who loose the privacy and quiet they need to nurse their baby.
Maria –
Thanks for your comments both last night and today.
As for Jackie’s note – she was quoting from Built of Living Stones. Here are the particulars:
I love to hear a choir from a choir loft, like at the Air Force Academy or at our previous parish of Blessed Sacrament. However, at Blessed Sacrament we had many parishoners who wanted to be in the choir but couldn’t make it up the stairs to the loft. With our first principle of open access, can we choose to cause the same problem with this renovation?
Troy
Thanks Troy, that helps. It just sounded like the choir loft concept had been done away with altogether.
I certainly understand the issue of stairs for older members. Absolutely they should be given equal access. I hope it’s clear that I’m not saying I would like them in the loft as a form of banishment. I love our choir and was just thinking of where their talents would be most appreciated.
I, too, love the effect of a choir that is heard from the choir loft or a space at the back of the church. Not only does it heighten the sense of the sacred, it does not distract from what should be the main focus – the Sacrifice at the Altar. When the choir is near the sanctuary, it does become a distraction – a performance – that is disjointed from the Mass instead of a beautiful, integral part of it. It would help the next time we need hymnals if we could find one that hasn’t been Protestantized.
I attended the very informative meeting last night, and was impressed with the work that’s been done so far! I’m grateful that parishioners have this opportunity to provide their input to the process.
I was most impressed with the long-term view that is providing the context for this effort. Another 50 years… And I began thinking about the past 50 years in the history of the Church, and considered the changes that were made less than 40 years ago to most Catholic churches as a result of the introduction of the Novus Ordo mass – removal of altar rails, re-orientation of the altar, etc. With the advent of Summorum Pontificum, has the committee considered that over the next 50 years there may be a need to accommodate the way in which the Tridentine Mass is offered so that it can be made available to parishioners who request it?
IMHO
It appears many parishioners would find the use of the choir loft, or at least the moving of the choir from the front to be an necessary improvement in the celebration of the liturgy and sense of transcendence. This is one of the first order goals.
From the above document it seems clear that having the choir in front is something that should only be done out of necessity. I think we should look hard for ideas/solutions that can accomodate the choir as it should be, such as:
-adding a lift to the loft (exclusively for the use of the choir)
-creating a niche at the back that is at church level, but elevated so that sound will still travel above the people. I have seen this a some churches, though I have never heard a choir sing from one. Here’s a picture similar to what I have seen. This solution would make the choir feel more like part of the congregation.
My sister in law is a church organist and choir director, and she has told us that, as far as cantors communicating with music directors there are several options such as mirrors that can be used. I have even seen earpieces used by cantors to communicate with the choir loft.
I understand that when we have a lone cantor they need to be in front to lead the people, but the truth is that when a choir is used, the people need very little if any, direction. We tend to simply immerse ourselves in the choir’s singing.
Also, moving the organ to the back would free up a space up front that could be used for a baptismal font.
Just some ideas.
The meeting last night was so well presented and all of the comments were so interesting. I was impressed by the way the committee came to listen to the opinions of the parishioners, and it was clear they were seriously considering everyone’s ideas and suggestions. This humble attitude reveals the leadership of a truly holy pastor!
It seems clear from the Living Stones excerpt Troy quoted that the Sanctuary proper would not be the desired “default” location for a choir. I’m not a musician so I’d like to know the reasons why a choir sounds so good from a loft. Is it because they are behind the assembly? Or above? Maybe the space for a choir can be low enough for the universal access, yet slightly above the assembly and in the back as a matter of sound quality, not to slight the choir.
As for the Cry room, if we do indeed end up expanding the North side and/or converting the Overflow to a permanent part of the church, there might be an opportunity there to incorporate an enclosed Cry room that has the feel of being part of the Sanctuary.
Perhaps the upstairs could be the storage area.
Troy, I grew up in Blessed Sacrament parish and was married there!
I would like to make one comment regarding the placement of the choir. One thing to keep in mind is that the current placement of the choir allows them to receive the Eucharist, have a moment of prayer, and then move into song during the long process of distributing the Most Precious Body and Blood to the rest of the congregation. I have heard some people complain that the singing doesn’t allow them to meditate quietly, but I personally feel the singing enhances the moment.
Parishes that use the choir loft handle communion easily, by having an extraordinary minister head to the choir loft right away and distribute communion there first.
The elevated choir seating at the back of church is referred to as choir stalls. I believe there is such seating in the Christ the King chapel at the JPII center.
This seems like a very good compromise/option
Here’s a picture of exactly what I mean. The choir is at church level, but still elevated.
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