By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
The St. Aloysius Catholic Church community came together on Sunday for a celebration that was both a commemoration of its rich history and a recommitment to future generations.
“We’re celebrating the dedication of the church, which took place a hundred years ago. … and showcasing the renovations made possible by the successful ‘Forever in Faith’ capital campaign,” said Father Tom McQuillen.
Parishioners raised over $5 million for major renovations to the school and parish offices, making the event “a celebration of a building, and also a celebration of the community,” he said. “The church is not only that consecrated space where we gather to worship God, but it’s also a symbol of us being the living stones that make up the temple of God, the members of the body of Christ.”
With 2026 marking the 100th anniversary at about the same time as the school and office renovations were wrapping up, the event expanded to celebrate both achievements.
Renovations ready for next 100 years
According to Michael Ginnetti, pastoral associate for evangelization, the parish dates back to the 1880s; however, the cornerstone of the existing church building was laid in 1924, and in July 1926, the building was officially dedicated.
“The cornerstone’s still there, which makes us think about what they were going through 100 years ago to make this happen,” parishioner Nick Kulik said about the St. Aloysius campus. “And here we are still celebrating that and planning for the next 100 years,” with the completion of the renovations.
The campuswide project was mostly renovation of existing spaces with very little new construction.
At the heart of the changes were security, accessibility and hospitality, Ginnetti said.
Previously, the school was a three-sided rectangle. The fourth side, a connector, was added and became the new entrance with separate doors to the parish offices, school and school offices. All the doors have swipe pads for security purposes.
Where stairs once created weird access, there are now ramps for smooth transitions between the school and parish spaces, Ginnetti said. There is also a new elevator being installed just inside the school and parish office doors.
The kindergarten wing of the school was turned into parish offices and adjoining meeting spaces, including the Pope, Saint, and Bishop rooms.
Clare Hall, the area where the Franciscan Sisters of Sylvania lived when they taught at the school until the late 1990s, was completely renovated.
The two-story, solid brick building “had good bones, but it wasn’t serving us great in its existing structure,” Ginnetti said. “The upstairs was like a cell block and a hallway.”
Now it is a state-of-the-art technology room, complete with all new PCs and Macs, giving students the opportunity to learn on both operating systems. A media room with a green screen and recording capabilities will be used for regular updates or recapping weekly events.
“The kids will get experience being on a microphone and in front of a camera,” he said.
While students Savannah Kulik, Anna Zera and Gemma Dulaney checked out the school spaces during the open house, they were very excited about the updated technology room.
“The new tech lab is so nice,” said Savannah.
“It’s such a welcoming school,” Anna said.
“The teachers are amazing, and it’s faith-based, which is so important these days,” Savannah said.
What used to be the sisters’ old laundry room became the teachers’ supplies and copier room that is right next to the new teacher’s lounge that was previously the sisters’ kitchen. “It’s a good workspace for them,” Ginnetti said.
The sisters’ chapel, which used to have access into the school, creating some security issues, is still connected, but access is on the outside of the building.
New restrooms were added for the teachers, as well as dedicated restrooms in the junior high wing on the second floor.Parents and students’ comments about the renovations have already been positive, Ginnetti said. “Our parents and people in the parish said, ‘We love that it doesn’t feel institutional.’”
There have also been outside changes to the campus, he said. The parking lot is being resurfaced and re-striped to change the flow of the traffic. Instead of parking north and south, parking will be changed to east and west. The traffic flow will improve, and the change increases the lot by 10 spaces.
The playground, with separate areas for preschool and the elementary/junior high students, has been upgraded with newer and more inclusive equipment.
A bonus for the renovations, according to Ginnetti, is that the church address officially changed from 150 S. Enterprise St. to 131 S. Summit St. The building didn’t move, but the updated address reflects the location of the new main entrance off of Summit Street.
That change helps with GPS directions, he explained. Previously, GPS directions for St. Aloysius would take visitors to the Enterprise side of the church, where there was no access to the parking lot and minimal street parking. “Then you would go around the corner and hit the one-way sign on Summit, requiring you to go all the way to Prospect Street and around to catch the right direction for Summit Street’s one-way direction,” he said. “Now, GPS lines up with the parking lot and takes you to the right place.”
“There have been a lot of changes over time, and it takes some getting used to,” said Colleen Schroeder, a parishioner for 30 years and a parish office staff member. “A lot needed to be updated, especially with the school security, but today’s celebration is about more than the renovations and the 100th anniversary. It’s always good to bring the community together, to foster a sense of community and togetherness.”
With four masses each week, and often people choosing to attend the same mass each week, “You tend to see the same people week after week,” she said. “This brings us together to celebrate this community.”
“It means a lot to celebrate the hundred years of the church. I’m so happy to see a lot of good stuff going on with the renovations,” Nick Kulik said. “My kids go here, my wife Julia is the preschool director and teaches here, so we’re happy that all this positive momentum is happening.”
Kulik, a career fundraiser, was pleased with the capital campaign’s results in both amount and the quick timeline it took to reach the goal.
“It feels very positive. I feel like today faith is not always at the forefront as it used to be. So, to see something positive like this in faith, and then all these people too, it’s what I love about this parish,” he said. “I like to see kids, parents, and older adults. Everyone is hanging out and having fun.”
He also praised the spirit of generosity that resonates throughout the St. Aloysius community.
“It’s not just about raising money, but a lot of us have put real sweat equity into some of this. Like for the playground, we said, ‘We need a bunch of volunteers to do this work,’ and people just showed up.”
Laurie French and her 17-year-old son, Sam, have been part of the parish for four years—Sam as a student for seventh and eighth grade, and Laurie as an active member of Parish Life activities. She was thrilled to be part of the group that helped plan the celebration.
“I’m a history buff, so getting to 100 years is pretty spectacular,” she said. “Knowing the history of the church and the things it’s been through has been interesting. But it’s the people of the parish who have made it, and continue to make it, what it is. Everything about it is community. I think anyone who contributed to the capital campaign should really be very happy with the results.”
For Nancy Harvey, also a member of Parish Life, St. Aloysius “ has been a real integral part of mine and my spouse’s faith journey.” Her husband, Chris, is a deacon of the church, and as they became more involved over the past 20 years, they grew to love the church more and more.
“It really is a beautiful church,” she said, describing the beauty and deep symbolism of the sanctuary’s mural. “But the beauty of the church really is the parishioners. This is the most welcoming church.”
She noted that when looking at a plaque with parishioners’ names from 1888, many of the family names are the same. “It’s wonderful to see those generational legacies, and to celebrate the legacy of the church, knowing that it’s withstood all of the societal pressures and changes, and it’s still here supporting and providing a Catholic community for the people of Bowling Green.”
