It boggles the mind how quickly time moves forward. Just 3 years ago on Valentine’s Day, we opened a new middle school at St. Mary. With that change, we made improvements to the parish ground such as a new gate entry on Bean Ave. As most know, the two pillars at that entrance to the playground/parking lot display a sign; one with the school crest and another that reads St. Mary Parish. 

Since that time, in order to have continuity with the changes we made that resulted from the new middle school building, it was recommended that we also update the signs in front of the parking lot between the rectory and Howley Hall and the sign in front of the Church. You may have noticed that workers have built a monument wall near the former sign describing the location of the Pastoral Ministries Office and one near the sign describing St. Mary Church and Mass times. People have asked about these monuments, and now I am happy to write for the archives that we will install two new signs similar to the ones found at the entrance to playground/parking lot.

Our hope to achieve continuity was answered with these monument walls, and the Building and Grounds Committee spent several months determining the best way to install brass signs in order to secure them onto a structure sturdy enough to hold their weight and safeguard them from any unforeseen circumstance. Additionally, from budgetary standpoint, we needed to find funding for the project at hand. At long last, these signs will be installed and stand for many years to come.

The former signs were likely installed when Fr. Arthur Hofmann was pastor. Back before 1987—near the 75th Anniversary of St. Mary Parish—Lyndon Ave. was a town street that ran north and south between Bean Ave. and Main St. Parish leaders at the time were able to secure the land on part of Lyndon Ave. in order to build the Office of Pastoral Ministries as well as the Hoffman Center. More than 25 years later, we continue to upgrade the parish site in order to meet the needs of our present and future generations.

There are many more projects that the Building and Grounds Committee are considering. We have developed a master plan for the parish site and continue to find ways to fund the maintenance and improvements to our buildings and location. I wish to thank the Tom Albanese Family and the Ben Musolf Family for their contribution of the new brass signs. The signs are a great addition to the parish. Also, I am grateful to Rob Meighan ( R.M. Masons ) for his fine work building the monument walls and installing the signs.