I know it's been a while since we've posted anything on the construction blog, but it doesn't mean things were standing still.
We've been collecting comments and suggestions from parishioners and discussing the layout of the church with the Diocesan Building Commission.
We appreciate your help in correcting any errors or in updating original pledges and memorials you may have made to the very first building campaign in 2002-2004.
While we await the two drawings of the proposed church from a view on Ward Avenue, and a view from the ground as one approaches the church from the parking lot to the southern entrance, it behooves us to familiarize ourselves once again with church history, architectural terms and the church architectural guidelines we have from the USCCB and the Diocese of Trenton.
Two very helpful resources in this regard are a newly published book by Denis McNamara and the document from the USCCB Built of Living Stones. The bishop's document was issued in 2000 as a "a series of guidelines approved by the Latin rite bishops of the United States to assist diocesan bishops in the building and renovation of churches. It replaces Environment and Art in Catholic Worship. Where the document quotes liturgical books, those norms are binding on all communities".
McNamara's booksis lavishly illustrated and does a terrific job of condensing, explaining and presenting not only the history of church architecture, but the theology and ecclesiology to which the architecture gives expression.
We'll feature highlights of the book along with the corresponding material in the USCCB document as we begin to have working sessions on the interior design and layout of the church building. This process is just beginning; we want to be certain that we accomodate our present and future needs and incorporate as many necessities as we can to the relatively limited footprint of our church.
McNamara's book is available at Liturgy Training Publications and a link to Built of Living Stones has been posted here for some time under Church Documents. It is repeated here.