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In 1988, Fr. Raymond Burger became pastor of Holy Trinity. One of Fr. Ray’s important goals for the parish was to nurture the faith life of each parishioner. He offered parish weekend retreats which resulted in the formation of Living Faith Communities. The retreats helped individuals and families strengthen their faith lives and made it possible for them to become an integral part of the larger parish family.
Another important goal of Fr. Burger was to make many needed improvements to the physical condition of the parish. The 1980’s were especially difficult times financially for the parish, so the challenge of making major improvements was great. Nevertheless, Fr. Burger set out to renovate our two churches. The renovation of the “worship center” (now our “Parish Center”) and the Old Stone Chapel took place from 1989 to 1991, at a combined cost of $250,000. Parishioners made special pledges to aid in the task. The result was very well received and seemed to energize the parish community. This set the tone for improvements and additions unparalleled in our 110-year history.
In 1992, a “Master Plan” was formulated by Nick Disidore, then Parish Administrator, that outlined the many areas of need for our growing parish that would lead us into the 21st century. It was presented to Archbishop Ignatius Strecker, who praised the plan for its “depth of vision.” Through several town hall meetings, the plan was presented to the parish and adopted for immediate implementation.
In the fall of 1993, “Phase One” began with the expansion of our grade school, which involved adding 20,000 square feet for 14 classrooms, at a cost of $1.3 million. It was blessed and dedicated by Archbishop James P. Keleher in August 1994. This building was completely paid for when finished.
In the spring of 1994, preliminary work began on “Phase Two,” which focused on our new church building. During the following 12-month period, the parish sought special multi-year pledges which were tied to memorials. Over 1,000 households made a commitment, allowing construction to begin in the summer of 1995. Four properties (some dating back to the 1910’s) were purchased, which allowed the new church to be built at its present site. The size of the building is 27,100 square feet and it seats 1,200 people.
The stained-glass windows and bell came from Fr. Burger’s boyhood parish of St. Thomas Church in Armourdale, which had been closed for several years. The round painted icon above the altar, all altar furniture and many of the vestments, altar cloths and banners were crafted by parishioners.
The new church was dedicated on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in 1996, with a full house in attendance. A reception followed in the social room. The cost to build the church was $3.8 million, plus an additional $800,000 for furnishings and miscellaneous building expenses.
“Phase Three” began in the spring of 1998 and touched nearly every corner of parish life. The first component involved the transition of the former church into what is now our “Parish Center,” complete with hardwood floor, retractable basketball goals and bleachers, kitchen, restrooms and improvements to the roof and lower level. It was completed at a cost of $750,000 and dedicated on September 25, 1998.
The next component involved the construction of our Administrative Office building. The parish staff was originally housed in the former church; they moved to the top of the Children’s Center once construction began on its renovation in mid-January 1999. This structure, along with a new garage for the rectory, was built on the corner of our campus at 92nd and Pflumm. The Parish Office is 4,000 square feet on the ground level with a 1,500 square-foot basement. It was dedicated on August 18, 1999, at a cost of $700,000.
Other improvements associated with Phase 3 involved the “Children’s Center,” which at the time was home to nearly 250 children throughout the week. New energy-efficient windows were installed in September 1999 along with new carpeting, fresh paint inside and out, restroom renovations and renovation to the upper level for our growing Catechesis of the Good Shepherd ministry, at a cost of about $75,000.
Next: Into the New Millennium
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