Dear Sisters and Brothers,
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen
We wanted to use this opportunity to let you know that the Church of Saint Bridget of Minneapolis is still active in the middle of the Northside. Saint Bridget has been present in the neighborhood for over 100 years, and our current church building has been a beacon of faith for over 65 years. Throughout these years, we have continued to maintain the church building, the rectory, the school, and its addition, the convent building. The cost of upkeep for our campus is substantial, but we have managed them well, and they are in good condition, with one exception.
When the church building was being built in the mid-1950s, Father Donovan wanted superior quality materials and workmanship. To this end, he had our stained glass windows produced in Germany using a high grade of glass and the best lead on the market. The artisans who constructed the windows took their direction from Father Donovan regarding the imagery and symbols, each window telling its own story. These magnificent stained glass windows are now over 65 years old and in great need of maintenance.
As you might imagine, artisans familiar with these types of windows are not ordinary. Luckily, a company in Minneapolis is remarkably familiar with our windows (having repaired them over the years) and is a true artist in their own right. They have inspected the windows and pointed out areas where gaps are forming, and the mere weight of the windows is causing them to sag. As a result, some broken areas and many places are at risk of falling apart in the near future.
They quoted the repair, which required them to remove the windows, take them to their location, and rebuild them with a modern-day lead type that was not initially available. They have already removed the ‘Christ the King’ window from our choir loft and are rebuilding it as we speak. The cost of this first phase is $98,000. Our finance committee approved this beginning step, and our pastor authorized it. (There was little choice).
This expenditure is difficult for a church of our size, and we hope to offset this cost with your donation. Please prayerfully consider giving toward the reconstruction of this window. The window currently in the process reflects Jesus Christ looking over the faithful in the church, and it is backlit, showing the image of Jesus to the entire Northside. Saint Bridget is here to stay, and we are determined to be the presence of Christ throughout the Northside of Minneapolis.
Donations can be made by mailing a check to the office or go to our website: www.stbridgetnorthside.com
1) click on donation. 2) click on the welcome button. 3) scroll to the fund button. 4) click on building fund to add your donation…very simple.
May God bless you and your family with all that is good.
Deacon Rich Heineman