Dear Parishioners of St. Elizabeth Seton,

“Open up the doors, let the Spirit in…” is frequently sung by all of us as we gather for mass.  Opening the doors is a significant and important part of us breathing new life into our sacred spaces.  But over the years, opening the automatic doors and even the front doors of the church was a noisy ordeal that turned heads every time the familiar squeaking took place.  

From the earliest planning, replacing the front doors to the church was a priority. Without windows, and opening as they did to the outside was considered a safety hazard. One could not see who was on the outside ready to enter. We began addressing this issue by looking for doors that were designed for a church and contained glass to welcome everyone to St. Elizabeth Seton.  We located a company that designs church doors.  In the weeks to come, the new doors will be installed to allow natural light in the narthex and a safe entry and exit for everyone.  

The new entrance doors are extremely heavy, they are made of solid mahogany, (Swietenia species) imported from Nigeria.  Mahogany doors offer us many benefits as they are highly energy efficient because they are not porous, has a tight grain, and does not allow drafts in and air conditioning out. Natural mahogany doors resist warping, cracking, and swelling in extreme weather, including an Arizona monsoon. As noted by Fr. Williams, mahogany trees have a natural resistance to termites due to their dense grain structure and natural chemical compounds. 

The doors that have recently been added to the renovation projects are the automatic sliding glass doors. Over the years they have become very noisy, often coming off the track and frequently not working. As we plan to open the doors, these needed a major overhaul.  In the week to come, new motors, new chains, new tracks, and even new sensors will be installed. These doors located on both the east and west side of the church will hopefully be a little quieter!  Even the solid metal doors on the west side of the church will be replaced with new doors that open easily and quietly. 

By addressing specific areas that are need care and improvements we are indeed preparing to “Open by the doors and let the Spirit in…to the renovated St. Elizabeth Seton.  

 n Christ and with Gratitude,

Dr. Kathleen H. Goeppinger
Jubilee Chair