Exciting News!
We would like to express our deep appreciation to you for the success of our chair campaign, as well as say welcome back to the Church of Our Lady of Loretto!
We came to you earlier this year with our Spring Appeal for a great need in the church: to refurbish our aging 30-year-old chairs. You far surpassed our expectations! You more than doubled our original goal, with approximately $150,000 raised. Thanks to you, all 500 chairs are being refurbished and other important work in our church will be addressed. Your donations are a great gift to our most sacred space.
In other joyful news, beginning July 11, we will be able to warmly and excitedly welcome the public to worship with us again after more than year. Although the chairs won’t quite be ready by July 11, we look forward to worshipping with you in person once again.
In gratitude,
Sister M. Rose Edward (Goodrow), CSC
As Sisters of the Holy Cross, the values of inclusivity and hospitality are pivotal to our beliefs, and our church is often the focal point of this activity at Saint Mary’s.
About the project
With original construction that began in 1880, the Church of Our Lady of Loretto is the primary church for the Congregation, Saint Mary’s College, and hundreds of community members. During a normal year, the church is host to twice-daily Mass, many prayer celebrations, and Masses of Resurrection for our deceased sisters. The church is where nurses graduating from Saint Mary’s College receive their cherished pins, where weddings are celebrated, and where liturgical events such as “Lessons and Carols” at Christmas are jubilantly held.
Sturdy but worn
When the church was renovated in 1993, the current chairs were purchased. But after nearly 30 years of constant use, the chairs in the church are simply worn out. They are good, sturdy chairs, but the cushions are badly frayed, the padding is crushed, and some of the wooden frames need to be restored.
Thank you
for helping with this worthwhile spring renovation project! Your gift is an investment in the comfort and safety of our sisters and each of our congregants, and is deeply appreciated. Most of all, you are investing in the beauty of community and knowledge that we will soon be together to celebrate our shared faith. God bless you!