In a year with many current projects currently in development construction to share, we again take the opportunity to reflect in gratitude on the many blessings of the last year.
COMPLETED RENOVATIONS
As we enter our sixth year of business, two more significant renovation projects have been completed, while three other major new construction projects are now in their final months. Just over a year ago, John Paul II Newman Center at University of Illinois Chicago re-dedicated a renovated chapel, the first and largest of multiple phases of beautification centered on renewal of the sacred liturgy and centrality of the sacraments and devotional life of its campus ministry. Over the summer, the next phase was completed that consisted of swapping existing sacristy and confessional rooms, building a new confessional with vestibule, and completely outfitting the new sacristy. A third and final phase featuring replacement stained glass, additional symbolic carvings for the altar, ambo, and reredos, and statue of St. Joseph are planned for this year.
Just two months later, St. Edward Catholic Church in Athens TX celebrated their dedication of a new church – formerly a protestant campus on the outskirts of town. The work was completed by local carpenters and features an English gothic theme and motifs of King Edward the Confessor and Christ the true King. Subsequent phases will include new stained glass and exterior improvements.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
While at this time last year we saw the large steel frame skeleton of St. Mary’s Catholic Center in College Station taking shape, the building’s exterior began to look much more complete nearing the end of the year. The interiors are now largely surfaced with drywall and the remaining finishes will begin to be installed in the coming weeks. Stunning sacred arts will soon begin to arrive on site as well – murals by EverGreene, stained glass by Foster furnishings by Texas Carved Stone and ALBL Oberammergau, who are also providing statuary and – awaiting a complex orchestration of installations in final months of construction later this spring. Dedication is scheduled for July 29.
Exterior brick, cast stone, roofing, and other materials are applied at St. Mary’s in College Station, TX
St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul MN began construction last spring and saw rapid progress on a new addition featuring chapel, residences and communal spaces for priests, basement meeting and hobby space, set for April 20 Dedication. The chapel also features mural work conceptually designed by EverGreene and developed / painted by local Twin Cities sacred artist Nicholas Markell, stained glass by Gaytee-Palmer, furnishings and carvings by ALBL Oberammergau, and mosaics by Lenarduzzi.
Above: brick and other exterior materials are applied to the St. John Vianney Seminary addition. Below: The interior of the chapel takes shape.
Finally, a long-awaited rebuild of Church of the Visitation in Westphalia, TX after a devastating 2019 fire destroyed the historic church has also made significant progress. The iconic twin towers are once again proudly lifting their crosses and bells atop the hill to again be the beacon that served for so many generations before. Construction is expected to conclude in August.
The exteriors at Visitation in Westphalia are largely completed, with the exterior porch being framed.
FORMATION RECAP
The fall presented several opportunities for formation: Three parish presentations took place in Wisconsin – Holy Rosary in Medford in Aug & October and at St. James in Amherst in October. Michael also presented to St. Mary Cathedral and the University Catholic Center twice for RCIA, and he and Hannah assisted with presentations for two Marriage Prep Retreats as well. Appearances on Red-C Radio and an interview feature in the Word on Fire Evangelization & Culture Journal provided opportunities to continue to spread Studio io’s mission of ongoing liturgical renewal and evangelization through beauty.
PERSONAL UPDATES
The Studio io team has been delighted to welcome Ryan Pigg, a resident of Topeka, KS. Ryan and his wife Cecilia expanded the Pigg family to three little Pigglets over the summer. Life is a little crazier for them, but so far they have stayed ahead of the big bad wolf with a lot of detailed brickwork.
Katie Ortega and her husband Jerome celebrated a first year of marriage and Jerome’s 40th, spending time with family at the Ortega mountain house and attending weddings. This first year married offered a lot to look forward to in the years to come as God guides family and careers.
Elsa Kosegarten-Stubblefield & husband Jeremy spent a month in Mexico in the summer, listing among their year’s highlights their daughter Natalia playing soccer in the fall, traveling to Texas for Thanksgiving, and also seeing up with fellow Studio io teammates Katie and Ryan for the Society for Catholic liturgy conference in Denver!.
Mike Tamara and wife Lauren and their family joyfully welcomed their new addition of baby Eli. Mike was also able to meet Michael and Hannah in Philadelphia for some team-building and church sightseeing.
Michael Raia and wife Hannah were finally able to make a long-awaiting pilgrimage to eastern Europe that was postponed in 2020. The trip allowed them to visit their good friends at ALBL Oberammergau and see works in progress for St. Mary’s Catholic Center new church and St. John Vianney College Seminary addition, after a large shipment had been completed and sent a few months prior for Church of the Visitation.
We continue to give thanks to God for his abundant blessings in providing us the opportunities to apply our talents to the service of our wonderful clients, with deep gratitude for the individual generosity of those who make our work possible. We entrust this coming year as always to the continued intercession of Our Lady and St. Joseph – pray for us!