A Real Front Door and So Much More

The official dedication isn’t scheduled until late September, but already Visitation Parish, at the corner of York Road and Madison Street, has taken on a whole new look.

“I keep using the word ‘Wow!’ whenever I look around at what the people of Visitation have accomplished,” said Deacon Anthony Spatafore, pastoral associate and facilities manager. “The people of Visitation Parish have been wonderful. They have been so generous. And they will be the greatest benefactors of the new campus.”

Spatafore, or Deacon Tony as parishioners affectionately call him, agreed to give a sneak peek of the new church addition and school renovations to Elmhurst Patch last week. Begun with a ground breaking last spring, the renovation will help “create an overall campus that is pedestrian safe, handicap-accessible, supports parish ministries and programs with much-needed storage space, and provides convenient parking,” he said.

And, it will give Visitation a “real” front door and a foyer as a gathering space for parishioners, he said.

“A lot of people come to church and don’t know which door is the main door,” he said. “Finally, we will have a real front door that looks like a main entrance, complete with a drive-around and covered portico for weddings and funerals.

“The Rectory [offices and priests’ living quarters] stands out more now. Because the terrain has been changed, it appears to sit more on a hill top. The whole landscape will look much more green and inviting.”

On the south side of the existing church building, the curved driveway serves as the approach to the new Parish Center and outdoor space, which includes a garden and illuminated statue of the Blessed Mother, as well as the newly constructed bell tower. A trio of refurbished metal bells in various sizes arrived June 13 for installation this week. They will join the chorus of chimes from the existing bell atop the church, which now rings three times a day, at 8 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. When the new bells will toll, no one knows yet, Spatafore said.

“They are all electric though,” he said. “Several of the kids wanted to know if they could be the ones to ring the bells. I think they’ve been reading the Hunchback of Notre Dame this summer.”

New Parish Center More Accessible

The new Parish Center will add hundreds of square feet of storage space, three meeting rooms, a multipurpose room with warming kitchen surrounded on three sides by windows, a 1,200-square-foot music room and a full basement for future expansion. Contractors are still putting the finishing touches on the inside, including painting and installing carpeting, and literally paving the way on the outside for its use later this summer.

Inside, Spatafore pointed out a wall of bricks salvaged from the original church building, known as Madonna Hall. It’s one way of connecting the old with the new, he said. A floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace serves as a striking centerpiece in one meeting room, which Spatafore described as “warm and fuzzy” for prayer and Bible studies.

But some of the most anticipated updates aren’t warm and fuzzy, they’re more practical: air conditioning, new restrooms with diaper changers, and an elevator to meet the critical need of accessibility for all parishioners and guests, he said.

“Accessibility was one of our key components,” Spatafore said. “We added a slew of new handicap parking spaces. All of these considerations really make for ease of accessibility. But there’s really something for everyone.”

School Enhancements Add to Education

Spatafore spent part of his professional career—before the altar—as facilities manager with Hinsdale Elementary District 181. This experience came in handy when he took on the role of facilities manager for Visitation.

“A lot of the ideas for the new school enhancements came from other schools,” he said. “Plus the architects had a lot of experience in the redesigning of educational institutions.”

School enhancements, some completed last fall and this spring, include a new science lab with state-of-the-art tables and resource room, a computer lab with new desktop computers, and an expanded library with reading nook.  Contractors added a circle drive on the west side of the school for easier student dropoff and pickup. There were also the unexpected retrofits to the storm sewer system caused by flooding this past spring.

“These updates simply enhanced the already quality education provided at Visitation School,” Spatafore said. “Students were able to use the science lab this past year. They continue to excel in science and math.”

The library, with its wall of windows and tiered reading nook, was stacked with boxes of books last week, ready to be placed on shelves. Librarians have been working overtime to prepare the space for the new school year. Contractors will install the school’s new computers, server and network in the next few weeks.

“As we see progress every day, we know your prayers are being answered,” Spatafore said in his weekly building update.

Economy Made for a Challenging Campaign

Spatafore will be the first to admit that conducting a capital campaign during an economic downturn makes for a less than ideal fund-raising situation. But add to that a major union strike, two floods and a record-breaking snowstorm, and it’s no surprise completion has been delayed a month or two.

So far, 900 families of the approximately 2,900 in the parish have pledged gifts amounting to $4.7 million; $5.2 million is needed to complete the project. To help make up the difference, Visitation is selling engraved brick pavers to encircle the Bell Tower. Cost will range from $250 to $500, depending upon size.

“This is a tremendous outpouring of support, especially during these incredibly difficult economic times,” Spatafore said. “But we’ve accomplished what we set out to accomplish, and that is to create community. These additions will take Visitation into the future.”

Another way Visitation is helping build community is to give parishioners more time to socialize and congregate before and after Masses. With this in mind, the Parish’s daily and weekly Mass schedule will change as of July 1.  The new Mass schedule can be found on the Visitation Parish Web site.