Work set to begin at Davenport Catholic school

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By Anne Marie Amacher
The Catholic Messenger

DAVENPORT — With pledges totaling nearly $2.8 million, work on the St. Paul the Apostle Parish campus will begin this summer. The parish kicked off a $4.6 million capital campaign “Glorifying God in Gratitude and Gift” in September. Father Tony Herold, the parish’s pastor, said response from parishioners has been “phenomenal.” The donations came in faster than anticipated, so work can begin this summer — starting with the school.

Anne Marie Amacher
St. Paul the Apostle School in Davenport, seen above, will receive some electrical upgrades this summer as part of St. Paul the Apostle Parish’s capital campaign, “Glorifying God in Gratitude and Gift.”

Approval from liturgical and diocesan commissions has already been received.

The parish set three goals. The first has been met and exceeded. Donations will continue to be accepted so that additional goals can be met.
The first phase consists of an upgrade to electrical work at the school, Fr. Herold said. That will start after the close of the current school year. Currently, about 200 amps of power are going into the school. Based on today’s technology and looking toward future needs, the new system will provide between 800-1,200 amps of power. Michelle Herrington, parish life director, said each classroom has just two outlets per room. That number will be increased. The upgraded electrical work will be completed before the start of the next school year. Future needs at the school include installation of a new elevator. Air conditioning is also a possibility down the line.

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The next part of the project will be renovation of the church’s worship space, she said. At some point in the fall of 2017, Masses will be moved to Denning Hall so that work can start in the church, Fr. Herold said. “That means some activities at Denning Hall will need to be moved, rearranged or changed.” The goal is to have the work completed in time for Easter Sunday 2018.

Work in this phase includes moving the altar, organ, tabernacle and baptismal font and installation of a day chapel, new lighting, new sound system and additional seating. “I’ve been told we have good ‘bones’ to our church (the structure). The church needs some work and we will see that happen,” Fr. Herold said.

In the summer of 2018, work resumes at the school. This includes installation of an elevator and making the school more handicap accessible, Herrington said. Fr. Herold added that security also will be upgraded, which includes a new entrance. He noted that not every idea for the front entrance will be completed because of funding, but all work is an improvement. Fr. Herold hopes that even more improvements can be made to the church and school campus in the future. Additional donations would help those goals become a reality.

Storm damage to be fixed

Work on St. Paul the Apostle Parish’s church, rectory and offices will be visible this summer. This work, though, is not part of the parish’s capital campaign. It is due to damage from a storm last fall.

Fr. Herold said the three buildings will receive new roofs. The church also will get new copper gutters, fresh paint and repairs to the trim. The entire cost of the work, estimated at $250,000, is being covered by insurance.

Insurance adjustors discovered the damage at St. Paul’s after a visit to examine damage at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Much of the damage at St. Paul’s was not visible from the ground level.


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