Post by LadyOfTheLake on Oct 10, 2004 22:59:59 GMT -6
Well, it was quite a day...
I was near the St. Nazianz / Valders area today (with my kids!!!) and drove past the property of JFK Prep. Baracades were moved, and I decided to turn around and stop.
As I drove down the drive way(s) -- I noticed a police car. First gut thought... CAUGHT! Still, I got out of the car and talked to a man (who I found out is the new owner) and the police man. And later on the security person (which did not impress me at all). I asked the owner about volunteer work, which I read about. He welcomes it, upon meeting someone, it seems.
To make a long story short... I was given permission to go into the church, to see some damage in particular. I took my kids with me, and parked close by.
The church is in shambles. I could have cried. Then again, I cannot imagine doing property damage to a place like that/church, or school or anything. I guess the toilet papering I did in the 70's and 80's was nothing... and then there was this. Just a shame.
The communion rail is laying down. The pews are covered up. Cross with Christ is taken down, I am guessing taken down due to work being done, and not by vandals? The beautiful windows have some damage... some are in great shape, some look as if had a BB Gun shot thru them? *shrugs*
I plan on doing some volunteer work there. My son is begging to, also. Owner said other children were helping out recently, under supervision.
For how lovely that place was, how breathtaking the grounds were in the 70's and 80's... the ground/property is still maintained very well (or atleast today). Still, the windows shot out and broken, it's sad, pathetic.
As we walked out of the church, a car drove up. A young guy wanting to know what we were doing, and if we needed any help. I explained why I was coming out of the building. He said he was the security person. Still, a gal with a baby in the back seat and 2 other ppl and a child were with him. And they were all smoking cigarettes, loud music as he talked to me. On the job, I guess? *shrugs again*
I asked for permission to drive up the hill to the cemetary. We started at the back row and respectfully walked down the rows. Some stones are so decomposed you can barely tell the first two numbers are 18something on it. We saw a group of other ladies there, they brought a floral wreath to one grave stone and had their hands folded.
We continued to walk down the rows... and had seen some familiar stones of priests I knew during my life time as a common church goer. Two priests I used to know well, I had not known they were deceased. And then a very recently dug plot, freshly seeded with grass seed. So there are still burials there... I learned. Then we got in the car and drove away, to the gates by the main road.
I did snap a few pictures. Nothing really close up, just because. Pretty much had jammed the camera in my purse. And held my breath.
All in all, I have seen the pics on a few websites, still I was not prepared to see the damage look like this...
I am from another generation. And I can honestly say that I do not know of one single person (in real life) that would have done property damage like this. And if I did, I would be beyond embarassed....
Lastly, upon talking to the new owner, a nice guy, he seems to want to restore and remodel, and sounds like he has some really good ideas...
I am just glad this will not be another year of one of the Death by Dawn's Halloween Haunted House events there... that place so deserves better than a crowd like that or a bunch of vandalizing thugs. The beauty of the grounds is still there... it is just breathtaking. Then again, maybe I am still fondly remembering the days it was fully functioning... in the late 70's and early 80?
With the pics, only time will tell. And I plan on bringing them to a one hour service tomorrow. And to the Appleton Conference on Friday night, if anyone cares to see them.
carpe diem--
I was near the St. Nazianz / Valders area today (with my kids!!!) and drove past the property of JFK Prep. Baracades were moved, and I decided to turn around and stop.
As I drove down the drive way(s) -- I noticed a police car. First gut thought... CAUGHT! Still, I got out of the car and talked to a man (who I found out is the new owner) and the police man. And later on the security person (which did not impress me at all). I asked the owner about volunteer work, which I read about. He welcomes it, upon meeting someone, it seems.
To make a long story short... I was given permission to go into the church, to see some damage in particular. I took my kids with me, and parked close by.
The church is in shambles. I could have cried. Then again, I cannot imagine doing property damage to a place like that/church, or school or anything. I guess the toilet papering I did in the 70's and 80's was nothing... and then there was this. Just a shame.
The communion rail is laying down. The pews are covered up. Cross with Christ is taken down, I am guessing taken down due to work being done, and not by vandals? The beautiful windows have some damage... some are in great shape, some look as if had a BB Gun shot thru them? *shrugs*
I plan on doing some volunteer work there. My son is begging to, also. Owner said other children were helping out recently, under supervision.
For how lovely that place was, how breathtaking the grounds were in the 70's and 80's... the ground/property is still maintained very well (or atleast today). Still, the windows shot out and broken, it's sad, pathetic.
As we walked out of the church, a car drove up. A young guy wanting to know what we were doing, and if we needed any help. I explained why I was coming out of the building. He said he was the security person. Still, a gal with a baby in the back seat and 2 other ppl and a child were with him. And they were all smoking cigarettes, loud music as he talked to me. On the job, I guess? *shrugs again*
I asked for permission to drive up the hill to the cemetary. We started at the back row and respectfully walked down the rows. Some stones are so decomposed you can barely tell the first two numbers are 18something on it. We saw a group of other ladies there, they brought a floral wreath to one grave stone and had their hands folded.
We continued to walk down the rows... and had seen some familiar stones of priests I knew during my life time as a common church goer. Two priests I used to know well, I had not known they were deceased. And then a very recently dug plot, freshly seeded with grass seed. So there are still burials there... I learned. Then we got in the car and drove away, to the gates by the main road.
I did snap a few pictures. Nothing really close up, just because. Pretty much had jammed the camera in my purse. And held my breath.
All in all, I have seen the pics on a few websites, still I was not prepared to see the damage look like this...
I am from another generation. And I can honestly say that I do not know of one single person (in real life) that would have done property damage like this. And if I did, I would be beyond embarassed....
Lastly, upon talking to the new owner, a nice guy, he seems to want to restore and remodel, and sounds like he has some really good ideas...
I am just glad this will not be another year of one of the Death by Dawn's Halloween Haunted House events there... that place so deserves better than a crowd like that or a bunch of vandalizing thugs. The beauty of the grounds is still there... it is just breathtaking. Then again, maybe I am still fondly remembering the days it was fully functioning... in the late 70's and early 80?
With the pics, only time will tell. And I plan on bringing them to a one hour service tomorrow. And to the Appleton Conference on Friday night, if anyone cares to see them.
carpe diem--
