Something Beautiful Is Coming to St. Patrick Parish
A fully funded gift to our community - the renovation of our Family Center begins this summer
A Gift to Our Parish Family
We are overjoyed to share a comprehensive transformation of our gathering space, made possible by the extraordinary generosity of anonymous donors within our own parish family — and by the faithful stewardship of parishioners whose consistent weekly giving and tithing made it all possible. This project requires no capital campaign, no pledge drive, and no special giving ask of any kind. It is simply a gift, offered with love, to the entire St. Patrick family. When complete, our Family Center will be a true gathering place, designed for face-to-face community, Sunday hospitality, sacramental celebrations, ministry, and all the moments that make parish life so rich. We cannot wait to share it with you.
Take a Look Inside
Your Questions Answered
The Big Picture
What is the Family Center renovation? St. Patrick Parish is undertaking a comprehensive renovation of our Family Center, the large gathering space that serves as the heart of so much of our parish life. The project transforms the space into a warm, welcoming, and beautifully designed hub for community, hospitality, and ministry. Think of it as giving our community the gathering place it deserves.
Why are we doing this? Our Family Center has served us well for many years, but our parish community has grown and so have our needs. This renovation is about more than aesthetics. It is about creating a true Catholic hub where our people can gather face to face, share meals, celebrate sacraments, form friendships, and encounter one another in meaningful ways. Great communities need great spaces, and this is our moment to invest in one.
What will be different when it is done? The renovated Family Center will feature a beautifully redesigned cafe-style gathering area with flexible seating, a dedicated lounge with natural light and comfortable furnishings, a large multipurpose room for the band and major events, a welcoming entry with a feature wall, artistic mural work, interior plantings, updated lighting throughout, and a stunning new exterior addition with floor-to-ceiling windows. The hallways will also receive fresh paint and bathroom countertops will be updated as part of the project.
What Will NOT Be Different? We know that change can raise questions, so we want to be equally clear about everything that is staying exactly as it is. Will the gym be affected? No. The gym is completely separate from the renovation scope and will not be impacted in any way. All gym programming, schedules, and access continue without interruption. What about the Brigid of Kildare Room and other meeting rooms? The other rooms in the building, including the Brigid of Kildare Room, will remain available for use as they are today. The renovation is focused on the Family Center space itself and does not change the availability or function of those rooms. Where will the bathrooms be? The bathrooms will remain in the same location. They will receive updated countertops as part of the renovation, but you will find them exactly where you always have. What about the kitchen and concession stand? The kitchen remains in place and will be accessible as before. The concession stand is not moving. Both will continue to serve our events and programming just as they do today. Will access to and from the school change? No. All current access routes to and from the school remain the same. The renovation does not affect how students, staff, or families enter and exit the school building.
Funding - The Gift to Our Community
How is this being paid for? This renovation is being fully funded through the extraordinary generosity of anonymous donors within our parish family, along with contributions from our parish festival's Fund a Need initiative. These are designated gifts, meaning the donors directed them specifically toward the Family Center renovation when they gave. That is their wish, and we are committed to honoring it. Just as a gift given in memory of a loved one goes to the named cause, these donations are dedicated to this project. There is no capital campaign. No pledge drive. No special assessment. This is truly a gift to our entire community.
Will my tuition go up because of this? No. This project has absolutely no impact on school tuition, or any regular parish financial commitments. The renovation is funded separately through dedicated donor gifts and festival proceeds. Your regular giving continues to support the day-to-day mission and ministry of St. Patrick Parish, just as it always has.
Why are the donors anonymous? The donors have chosen anonymity out of a spirit of humble generosity, giving as a gift with no expectation of recognition. We honor and respect that choice wholeheartedly. What we can say is that this gift comes from within our own parish family, from people who love St. Patrick and want to invest in its future.
Timeline and Construction
When does construction begin? Construction is planned to begin following our parish summer festival (June 26 to 28). We deliberately planned the start date to minimize disruption during the busy spring season and to allow the festival to take place as normal. Nugent Builders, our general contractor, is currently in the process of pulling the necessary permits, and we anticipate that moving forward on schedule.
How long will construction take? The estimated construction window is 3 to 4 months, which means we anticipate substantial completion by late fall 2026, well before the holiday season and positioned to benefit the new school year as much as possible.
Who is doing the work? Nugent Builders is our primary general contractor for the renovation, and we are proud to say they are part of our own parish community. The interior design and furnishings were developed by Enwork, led by Dave and Kelli Powell, who are also parishioners. We are grateful to have such talented, trusted, and familiar partners on this important project.
Current Events and Ministry Programming
Will our regular events still happen during construction? Yes. We are fully committed to continuing all current parish programming during the renovation. Our team is actively planning accommodations so that ministry, events, and gatherings continue without interruption. We will communicate specific logistics as construction approaches and schedules are finalized.
What about the Wild Game Dinner and other large events? Events like the Wild Game Dinner are an important part of our parish life, and we have no intention of disrupting them. The renovated space is designed to accommodate all of our current large events and any future events we may envision. It is also worth noting that our existing tables will be preserved, as they will continue to be needed for high-volume gatherings like the Wild Game Dinner.
Will funeral luncheons still be able to take place? Absolutely. Providing a dignified, warm, and welcoming space for families during times of grief and celebration is central to our parish mission. The renovated Family Center will be exceptionally well suited for funeral luncheons, with comfortable seating, a beautiful environment, and a space that truly honors the occasion.
What about Sunday hospitality and coffee and donuts? Sunday hospitality is one of the most important things we do. It is where community is built week after week. The new cafe-style layout was specifically designed with this in mind. The renovated space will make Sunday hospitality even more inviting and more comfortable for families of all ages.
What happens to our band program during construction? We want to be absolutely clear: we are fully committed to our band program, and it will continue. Because the band currently rehearses in the Family Center, we will make alternative arrangements during the construction period so that rehearsals are not interrupted. We are working through those logistics now and will communicate the plan to band families directly and well in advance.
About the New Space
How many people can the new space hold? The renovated Family Center has a maximum capacity of 225 people for large events. The space is organized into distinct zones: a cafe-style gathering area seating approximately 75, a large multipurpose room accommodating up to 128 in band configuration, and a lounge area seating approximately 20. The flexible design allows the space to serve both intimate small-group gatherings and large community events.
What kinds of gatherings will the space be best suited for? The new Family Center is truly designed for everything. From Sunday hospitality and small group ministry to large parish events and sacramental celebrations. It will be a better home for youth groups, speaker presentations, funeral luncheons, wedding rehearsal dinners, the parish festival, prayer groups, and so much more. The flexible furniture and layout means the space can be reconfigured for nearly any occasion.
What does the new exterior look like? The exterior addition is a beautiful complement to the existing building, featuring new siding, a dramatic gabled roofline, and floor-to-ceiling windows that bring natural light into the lounge and create a welcoming presence from the outside. You will be able to see the community gathering inside from the parking lot, which is exactly the kind of open and warm invitation we want to extend.
Will there be outdoor seating? Yes. The design includes outdoor patio seating areas adjacent to the building, offering a pleasant gathering spot during the warmer months.
Staying Informed
How will we receive updates during construction? We will keep the parish community informed through the bulletin, emails, and the parish website. We will post construction updates at key milestones and share photos of progress along the way. We want this to be an exciting journey our whole community is part of.
Where can I find more information, including the renderings? Full renderings of the new space, a project overview, and additional information are available on the parish website. We encourage everyone to take a look. The design is truly beautiful and we think you will be as excited as we are.
Who can I contact if I have more questions? Please reach out to Scott Czarnopys, Education Ministry Director and project lead, at sczarnopys@spparnell.org. You are also welcome to contact the parish office directly, or speak with Father Tom after any weekend Mass.
