Why All the Scaffolding?

Dear Sisters and Brothers ­—

It’s been nearly five months since the scaffolding began to rise around our beloved St. Ignatius Church. It’s rather awe-inspiring to think that it’s been 110 years since that last happened! I think that the symmetry and the black protective netting have a beauty unto themselves.

Some have asked, “Why all the scaffolding?” Since its original construction, the exterior and façade of the church have not been reviewed and repaired in any comprehensive and holistic way. It’s important to know that all the original studies of the masonry and the sheet metal — which comprises the siding on the spires, as well as the decorative urns, dentals under the eaves, and relief friezes — were all done with binoculars from the ground and various vantage points on the roof and in the spires. The scaffolding has allowed the engineers to inspect the church up close and fully, in order to both confirm their original observations and assess the building comprehensively. An apt analogy is that of a doctor who needs to be close to a patient to appropriately observe them, come to an accurate diagnosis, and heal them. 

Repairs and restoration are happening all over the building. Currently workers are removing layers of paint (all of which is lead-based, which has to be remediated), cracked brick (caused by the settling of the church over the last century, not by internal rusting of the structural steel), and rusted sheet metal. This would not be possible without the scaffold. The temporary metal exoskeleton will also allow the new replacement materials to be brought up to the various levels for storage before installation: replacement bricks, mortar, sheet metal, and paint. Finally and most importantly, the scaffold provides safety for the workers who are restoring our beloved church.

I’ll write with more updates again. In the meantime, a few quick ones: The project is on schedule to be completed in June, the original target. Phase II of the pew restoration will be completed in early October; the two front sections will be removed for their make-over in January. (Yes, we’ll move the altar down!) Though we’ve had a few surprising cost increases (sheet metal and exterior light fixtures, to name just two), we are tracking very closely to the budget. That’s very good news!

You will be pleased to know that at least a half a dozen times in the last few months, various people involved in the project have confirmed what we have been saying — the work we are doing will preserve St. Ignatius Church for most of the next century. I am deeply grateful to all of you who participated in the campaign and have provided this important legacy to the future faithful and to the city of San Francisco. Please continue to pray for the safety of the workers and the successful completion of the restoration of St. Ignatius. And,

oremus pro invicem.

Fr. Greg