Technical and Practical Improvements

When completed, the redecorating project For Such a Time as This will create a beautiful and majestic interior at the Basilica that will recapture and respect the building’s original architectural intent and maintain the prayerful and inviting warmth of our sacred space.

The project will also enable several technical and practical improvements, many of which will enrich the worship experience for parishioners, guests, and visitors to our historic church. These include new or improved lighting, A/V (audiovisual system), redesign of the pedrella, and transition from the Sanctuary to the Nave.

A first glimpse of the impact of the new lighting system can be seen now in the uplighting already installed in the Apse and Sanctuary. Practical--adding light that provides needed light for the celebrant and the servers, and properly illuminating the reimagined painting of the Apse scheduled for the summer of 2025, and technical--since all the new lighting will require less maintenance and is energy efficient. During this work, knob and tube electrical wiring that dates to the early 1900s is also being replaced.

The project in Phase One A includes the installation of our new upgraded sound system and other A/V improvements, both technical and practical. As a result, the congregation will experience a significant improvement in the clarity and quality of the spoken word during services. This enhancement will ensure that every member of our community can fully participate and engage in the worship experience, including listeners who need enhancement. The live streaming of Mass will also benefit from these new systems, including new cameras, microphones, and speakers.

A significant part of the redecorating project includes new flooring and the redesign of the pedrella, or platform, where the Altar resides and the transition between the Sanctuary and the Nave. The new design is simpler and includes fewer levels in the Sanctuary. This will create more usable space and better flow for the celebrant and the servers. These practical improvements will include shortening some pews in the first rows of the Nave center aisle. This will create useful space needed during a funeral Mass and also provide an area for wheelchair seating.  

There are other benefits that will result from the project, including the inclusion of a Baptistry and the addition of the Adoration Chapel for which design work is in progress. We are pleased that we were able to include both these enrichments by repurposing underutilized spaces, adding to the technical and practical benefits to be enjoyed as part of the redecorating project.

Our goal is to create a welcoming environment that supports the various liturgies that occur within it, is balanced and appropriate for a Basilica, follows current liturgical guidelines, and respects the history of Sacred Heart.