Before and after: St Michael's Church in Dane WI

I didn't even think of this but Joe reminded me, this is Fr. Alfred Kunz's parish.

Here is a before/after.

La Crosse Mary Mother of the Church parish raised $3.4 of $3.8 million for parish addition

MMOC

Both parishes developed during the baby-boom era of big families, with the school enrollment thus approaching 800 elementary students dispersed among 16 classrooms. In 2012, it became clear that the school building needed either major renovation and repair to meet basic standards as a school or be replaced.

The passage of time also changed the parish’s demographics, with a fraction of young children than previously and more older families than young, according to a brochure tracing the steps toward the upcoming building program.

Konopa, who became pastor of the debt-free parish of 1,000 souls in 2014, said the parish convened 19 sessions where members brainstormed about the future and considered three options.

...

The decision emerged to construct a new parish hall and religious education adjacent to the church, which technically still is named St. Thomas More Church, under Catholic Church law in which church buildings can’t be changed. But the parish is Mary, Mother of the Church, as its sign in front proclaims.

A pledge drive has secured cash and pledges of $3.65 million, and projections including pledges and fundraising are that the parish will have $3.8 million to cover all or most of the addition by the end of 2018, according to parish figures.

full at La Crosse Trib

When the demolished my elementary school I took it as an allegory of the demolition of my happy childhood memories.  The school was damaged by a tornado a few years ago and it was necessary to remove the school.  Now they have a giant empty lot.  A parish center makes a lot of sense.

As a parish, bad-ish music(it really varies each time I go, sometimes pretty reasonable) and despite the ugly church it's not the worst parish in La Crosse.  The original church had the tabernacle in the middle of church not hidden where it is now.  The priest is very good, a Steubie with an emphasis on Church History.  Speaking of, I have actually made decent progress on my La Crosse post and got some input, will probably put it up this spring.

St. Peter & Paul in Kiel WI breaks ground for addition

A groundbreaking ceremony for the first new church addition to St. Peter & Paul Catholic Parish in Kiel in a century has ushered in what leaders and members believe will be a welcoming environment and modernized building for all.

The 2,499-square-foot addition will increase handicap accessibility with a street-level entrance into the church vestibule, handicap accessible restrooms and a large elevator replacing an outdated, small lift.

“We sing the song ‘All Are Welcome,’ but we have to create a place and buildings that are welcoming and not just have stairs that people have to climb even as we say, ‘You’re welcome,’” said Pastoral Leader Joe Zenk.  [What is a "pastoral leader"?]

Denise Deibele, chair of the capital campaign for the St. Peter & Paul Parish project, said the vestibule addition will also allow for more space for weddings, funerals and general fellowship and will also include a coatroom.

continue at Sheboygan Press (with video)

It's nice to see these larger churches updated with modern utilities versus tearing them down and building new churches.

In case you are at a parish where you have never heard of the hymn 'All Are Welcome'

Marty Haugen, (born December 30, 1950 in Wanamingo, Minnesota), is an American composer of liturgical music. Marty Haugen was raised in the American Lutheran Church (ALC) in Minnesota, and also writes contemporary hymns and liturgies for the Lutheran church despite being a member the United Church of Christ. Despite being a non-Catholic, his music has found favor in the both liberal Roman Catholic and Protestant congregations. Haugen holds a B.A. degree in psychology from Luther College and an M.A. degree in Pastoral Studies from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.