Dear Saint Cecilia families,
The places where the Christian community celebrates the sacraments are among the most holy places in our lives. Since 1994, our parish family has had a large and well-maintained church building for the celebration of the sacraments. One part of it that has never been completely satisfactory is the confessional, located in the Saint Cecilia Room. The confessional is not soundproof and has only a temporary folding screen between the priest and the person going to confession. The shape of the room is awkward, and it is not wheelchair accessible. In recent years, we have seen an increase in the number of people going to confession, which is wonderful news. The time has come to provide a worthy place for the celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation and peace.
At the end of this letter, I am including drawings of the new confessional room we will be building soon. We will also set up a display in the place where the new room will be built. Some highlights: penitents will enter the confessional from inside the church, so that they can pray in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament as they are waiting to go to confession. Inside, there will be a kneeler and also a chair for those who can’t kneel. The door is big enough for a wheelchair to enter and there is space for a wheelchair to turn around. The priest’s compartment will have its own door, conveniently located near the sacristy. There will be a new partition between the priest and person going to confession. This will ensure privacy and also increase the safety of the priest.
The construction of the room involves framing, drywall, custom woodworking, modifications to the security system, and electrical work. Once it has been completed, we will also repaint the narthex so that the new construction blends into the old.
The cost of building the room will be approximately $57,000. This includes architectural fees and obtaining the permits needed from the City of Columbus. We are asking everyone to donate to the cost of this project by making a contribution to The Appeal of the Diocese of Columbus. Why are we asking you to donate through The Appeal, instead of giving the money directly to the parish? The answer is simple. We have not yet met our parish goal of the 2025 Appeal. Right now, we are $34,000 short of where we need to be. If we do not meet the goal, the parish will have to pay the difference. So, we are asking everyone to help us meet our Appeal goal and exceed it, so that we will have sufficient funds to complete the new confessional. We especially need the help of those who have not given to The Appeal. A donation envelope is enclosed with this mailing. You may also contribute online at https://columbuscatholicgiving.org/appeal-make-a-gift-now or use the QR code below.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Thomas Buffer
VIEW FROM NARTHEX
You are standing in the narthex, on the side nearest the rectory. To the right of the new confessional room is the hallway leading to the priest’s sacristy. Note that the existing soffit has been extended to reach to the right-hand wall.
AERIAL VIEW FROM THE NARTHEX
You are looking into the confessional from above. The Penitent enters from inside the church, on the left. The priest’s compartment is on the right. It has its own door conveniently located near the sacristy.
VIEW FROM THE HALLWAY
This drawing shows the view from just outside the priest’s sacristy, looking toward the narthex. The three doors, from left to right, are: priest’s entrance to the new confessional, existing ushers’ closet, existing janitor’s closet.
VIEW FROM INSIDE THE CHURCH
You are inside the church, looking toward Norton Road. Where there is currently a large window, to the right of the shrine of St. Cecilia, there will be a door into the new confessional. Penitents will wait inside the church to go to confession. There will be an electric light outside the door to let people know that the priest is present and hearing confessions.