CHARLOTTE — Parishioners at St. Vincent de Paul Parish will be attending Mass in the parish hall through the summer since major renovations started inside the church in early May.
The project has the dual purpose of making major needed repairs and updating the look of the church’s interior, according to Father Joshua Voitus, pastor.
“We had some wallpaper that was peeling badly, carpet with holes in it, things like that, so we’re basically resurfacing everything in the church,” Father Voitus said. “Our main goal is to fix things that are broken, plus make things a little bit brighter and give a little more emphasis to the crucifix, altar and tabernacle at the front of the church.
We’re going to be using more durable materials that are going to last for a very long time.”
Father Voitus said the renovations have been in the works for about six years, but were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Fundraising started in September 2023 and parishioners have so far raised about $620,000 of the $700,000 goal.
“The parish has been very supportive of the effort,” he said. “Since I got here seven years ago, people had been weighing in pretty constantly on things that needed to be done, and now we’re taking into account things both the diocese and the parishioners wanted in this project. We’re working with the structure we have, and we want to enhance some things in the church but still make it feel like home for parishioners.”
Church Interiors of High Point is the primary company working on the project.
The old carpet inside the church will be removed and replaced with tile flooring, and the walls and ceiling are being painted. Pews have been removed and taken to a location in High Point for repairs and refinishing.
The sanctuary will be painted in a dark slate gray color, with the side walls done in a “slightly off-white polished porcelain” hue, Father Voitus said. The center aisle’s flooring will be an off-white tile with maroon and burgundy accent tiles, and the tile for the side aisles will resemble green marble.
Statues of Mary and Joseph previously tucked away on the sides of the church will be moved to more prominent positions up front.
Some of the renovations will connect directly to the parish namesake. There will be a fleur de lis design in the flooring of the center aisle, reflecting not only the symbol’s association with the
Blessed Mother but also its association with France, St. Vincent de Paul’s home country.
The current goal is to have the renovations completed by the end of August.
In the future, Father Voitus wants to add more references to the parish namesake, with statues of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, co-founder of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
“We want to include a statue of her to honor her contributions to the ministry that St. Vincent de Paul started, and also because a lot of people have not heard of her, it will offer some education as well,” Father Voitus said. “She is also a founder of the order of sisters we currently have serving at the parish, so that would be a way to honor them as well.”
— Christina Lee Knauss