When the new vestibule opens, you’ll notice some changes in how you enter and exit the church. We’ve built several improvements into the facility regarding accessibility and security:
Accessibility:
· All handicap parking will be on the north side of the vestibule, clearly marked near the rectory.
The sidewalk from the handicap spaces to the north entrance of the vestibule is heated for your safety.
(The temporary handicap spaces in the south parking lot will go away when the new spaces open up.)
· Anyone with mobility issues who’s getting dropped off by a loved one will get dropped off by the north entrance.
· The handicap ramp is inside the vestibule (instead of outdoors, as it previously had been). When you walk into the north entrance (which is equipped with a handicap button for automatic opening/closing), you’ll simply take a right to use the ramp instead of going up the stairs.
· You’ll find that the walk from the new handicap spaces to the church is shorter than the walk from the temporary spaces we’ve been using during this past year.
Security:
· There will be two entrances into the new vestibule from outside: one on the north side, one on the south side. Everyone will enter through these two doors.
· This means that the two entrances we’ve been using (on the north side by the rectory courtyard and on the south side between the church and school) will now be locked.
· This will improve our security during the celebration of Mass by funneling all traffic through one location that we can monitor. (More about security during Sunday Mass will follow, as this is a topic we’ve been discussing in the Pastoral Team and Pastoral Council for quite a while.)
· Our exterior doors will also be set on a timer. That means that they will automatically lock once our evening meetings have started each evening. Hopefully this gives increased peace of mind to anyone who’s here in the church or vestibule during evening hours.
I’m very excited about these improvements. I hope that these details will help everyone feel comfortable and welcome here in this house where we come together to worship Christ.
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