Parish Life Center

Progress Continues on Pace

2010-06-15T06:49:00.000-07:00

Progress continues on pace with the mid October completion date as the final walls are being completed and the building is just about fully enclosed. All of the major parts of the Parish Life Center (PLC) are coming to life and the walkways and connector points to the existing facilities are taking shape.

Above is the walkway that connects the existing Emmaus House backyard to the second floor of the PLC. In addition to looking beautiful, this walkway will allow for easy access for Father Samuel, our new priests and the staff.

The high point in the picture above is the outline of our new Adoration Chapel. The roof is complete and it is ready for the outside skin.

This photo above shows the inside of our new Fellowship Hall looking to the south into the Youth Center area. As you can see much progress is being made as the exterior gets completed and work on the interior begins next month.

In the above picture, supporting structures are raised as the skeleton of the covered walkway connecting the church (via the west facing door) to the PLC. Notice the beautiful Emmaus arch design extended out into the walkway and throughout the PLC design.

Timber, Walkway & Roof

2010-04-29T17:20:00.000-07:00

As you can see, progress continues on the PLC as wooden timbers were installed to create the walkway on the second floor of the Education Center and metal roofing material skins the Fellowship Hall and Youth Center. Work continues on schedule and decisions are being made on the many items that are needed to help furnish our new facility. Needed furnishings include tables and chairs, kneelers in the adoration chapel, outdoor playground equipment, refrigerators, pots and pans and coffee machines. More information coming soon on how you can help Furnish the PLC this Summer!

50% Complete

2010-04-19T11:18:00.000-07:00

At the PLC Sneak Peak held on Friday, April 9th, the site construction manager announced that the project is 50% complete and the expected date of completion is October 8, 2010. This is great news and certainly meeting this deadline requires mother nature's cooperation as well as a bit of luck against any unplanned delays or unexpected events. But for now, our new facility will be ready in time to host our annual Fall Fest and break-in the kitchen along with the rest of the facilities.

Special Thanks from Father Samuel:
Thank you to everyone who made our Parish Life Center Sneak Peek a success last Friday evening. It was an extremely well organized event. Thank you as well to everyone who came. Special thanks go to all who brought wonderful things for our Holy Spirit Pot Luck. As always happens when we just ask people to bring what they do well, it was a really good pot luck and there was more than enough for everyone. If you missed this event, don’t miss future opportunities like this to come together as a parish community.

Progress is being made daily so keep checking in to see how the PLC is shaping up. You don't have to wait until the weekend to see how things have changed. Visit http://www.emmauslakeway.com/ and click on the PLC Update Blog.

Fully Framed

2010-04-09T09:56:00.000-07:00

The framing on the PLC is substaintially complete and the steel skeleton around the Fellowship Hall, Adoration Chapel and Youth Center provides the outline for our beautiful new facility. Wood framing on the Classrooms and Educational Wing is done and work on finishing the interior is in full swing.

Insulation was added this week on the outside and the walkway connecting the PLC to the west wing entrance/exit of the church is being prepared.

Progress Continues...

2010-03-29T15:07:00.000-07:00

The steel frame is now being erected on the Fellowship Hall and Adoration Chapel. More steel will be installed to frame out the Youth Center. As you see in the backgreound, the second floor of the Education Wing and roof is completely framed and now work begins on the inside. Keep watching for more photos and some serious progress in the next couple of weeks.

Remember we are only 2 weeks away from The PLC "Sneak Peak" on Friday, April 9th at 6 pm. Join us for hard hat tours and a Holy Spirit Pot Luck dinner at 7 pm.

The Steel Arrives!

2010-03-22T13:01:00.000-07:00

Welcome sight as the steel beams arrive (Monday - March 22, 2010) that will be used to frame out the Fellowship Hall, Youth Center and Adoration Chapel.

PLC Sneak Peek - Friday, April 9th

2010-03-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

Shape of Things to Come

2010-03-11T13:45:00.000-08:00

When you come to mass this weekend you will see that the second story framing has been added to the education wing of the Parish Life Center. Then, after next Monday, if you walk up to the top of the hill by Emmaus House, (the offices), you will see that the remainder of the slab and the huge retaining wall have been poured on that day. Soon, steel will be delivered and you will see the rest of the project, (fellowship hall, youth center, adoration chapel, kitchen and meeting rooms), taking shape.

This weekend, when you come to soup and stations on Friday and/or mass on Saturday or Sunday, we invite you to take a look at the new display in the narthex. The committee on interiors in the PLC has completed its work of selecting materials and colors for the various parts of the project. They have done terrific work.

A PLC Sneak Peek is being scheduled for early April, complete with Hard Hat Tours and a Pot Luck dinner so watch for the announcement on this website, at Mass and in the bulletin. - Father Samuel (Pastor’s e-epistle 3/12/10)

How is the Parish Life Center coming?

2010-02-28T19:52:00.000-08:00

Well, it is coming. About 2/3 of the slab has been poured. It is huge! Very soon they will start the framing for the classroom wing. That is the wing nearest the entrance to the church. With that, you will soon see a structure rising from the ground. As a matter of fact, in coming weeks you will see a lot rising from the ground. As for access to the offices, that is still compromised by the installation of a line from the chillers to the PLC. We have outside of the offices what some of the staff has been referring to as the “Grand Canyon.” I see that they are laying the pipe today, so I hope that office access will be easier in a couple of weeks. - Father Samuel (Pastor’s e-epistle 2/25/10)

Building Construction Update

2010-02-21T11:02:00.000-08:00

As of today (February 19, 2010), two sections of the concrete slab have been poured. As things stand right now, projections are that we will be in the building in October. The good thing about having a slab is that after months of watching dirt moving and installation of all sorts of stuff that needs to be under the slab, we will soon see the building rising. - Father Samuel (Pastor’s e-epistle 2/19/10)

The Outline

2010-02-01T06:41:00.000-08:00

Much progress is being made out back as the PLC comes to life! The foundation is nearly complete as over 30 cement pylons are drilled locking the new facility into the bedrock below. Once the foundation and support systems are in place, the construction of the building's frame will begin to show. Visible progress will quicken as we move into the heavy construction phase of the project. All is going well and we are still on target to complete before the end of 2010. More updates to come.

Remember the back parking lot?

2009-11-30T14:46:00.000-08:00

Check out the progress out back...

Phase II of construction has begun

2009-11-23T11:34:00.000-08:00

Phase II is officially underway and progress is beginning to show. The second phase includes construction of the connecting road from the office to the lower rear parking lot, all of the earthwork for the site, drainage, utilities and the pad for the building. The main construction office is also located out back of the church in the middle of the low rear parking lot.

The back lots have been closed to any and all traffic and a gravel walking path to the portables has been put in place at the bottom of the Emmaus house driveway, next to the Scout trailer.

Here are some pictures showing the progress out back.

New Parking Lot is Complete!

2009-11-22T14:15:00.000-08:00

As of this weekend (11/21) The new parking lot at the front of the church property is now open and ready to handle vehicles. Although a few finishing touches remain, the lot is striped and parking barriers are positioned. Over the next 2 weeks (weather permitting) the final details such as lighting, grading and sidewalks/stairs will be complete. In the meantime, test out the new lot but be careful as you walk towards the church to ensure your safety.

Like the other front parking lots, the new lot is accessible from both entrances off Lohman's Crossing to the church.

Window of Progress

2009-10-05T06:41:00.000-07:00

We have added a new feature to the site thanks to the photography skills of Harry Kilman. Harry has begun taking pictures of the PLC construction site every couple of days so we can have a visual historical record of our progress. Now that dirt is being moved, it won't take long for the window of progress to to begin showing real PROGRESS.

The "PLC Window of Progress" is convieniently located on the right hand side tool bar below the Parish Life Center Video.

Permits Issued and Construction Underway

2009-09-30T04:52:00.000-07:00

Construction on the new Parish Life Center has begun!

The first phase was approved and permit issued by the City of Lakewood on September 9th. The first phase consists of the front parking lot on the north side of the church property adjacent to Lohman's Crossing.

The second phase, which consists of the connecting road from the office to the lower rear parking lot as well as, all of the earthwork, drainage, utilities and pad for the new building, was approved and a permit issued by the city on September 29th.

Things are really beginning to move quickly and more heavy equipment will be on-site very soon. Please always remember for safety purposes to keep your children away from the equipment and any areas under construction.

Contributor: Don Walden - Chairman, Emmaus PLC Building Committee

Emmaus Catholic Parish Celebrates Ground Breaking for future Parish Life Center

2009-09-22T04:40:00.000-07:00

In the words of Msgr. Michael Mulvey, interim Administrator of the Austin Diocese, “It’s been a long time coming…our ambitions are realized, not personally, but as a community.”

The September 20th ceremony took place on the future site of the Parish Life Center. In addition to a large crowd of parishioners, Fr. Samuel and Msgr. Mulvey were joined by the Parish Building Committee, representatives from the Finance Council, the Architects, Contractor, and Lakeway Mayor Dave DeOme. Fr. Samuel expressed his deep appreciation to the building committee who has worked tirelessly to finally see their efforts coming to fruition.

Families were invited to place a small bag of dirt from their home in the ground “in keeping with the understanding that the parish is to be an extension of your home and a place where we come together as a faith family” (Fr. Samuel). The site was blessed and prayers shared, followed by music and refreshments.

Architecturally the new facility will be in harmony with the church. The building will serve all ages and needs with long-awaited classrooms and meeting space, as well as a multiple purpose space for large groups, a chapel, parish library, dedicated space for early childhood education, a nursery and multi-media assembly room, teen loft, and much more. For a growing parish of nearly 2,000 families, this was obviously a very happy day.

(Pictured above L-R: John & Nancy Gilluly, Mayor Dave DeOme, Fr. Samuel Hose, Msgr. Michael Mulvey, Don Walden and Tammy Reagan)

Groundbreaking Date Announced!

2009-07-20T11:50:00.000-07:00

Welcome Parishoners!

2009-07-20T11:43:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Emmaus Parish Life Center blog. This site is designed to give you the latest and greatest information regarding the construction of our new Parish Life Center. This will be your place for the updates on what is happening, important dates and anything related to the project. Information will be provided by a variety of folks connected to the project from Father Samuel, the Building Committee, general contractor and the architects. Please bookmark this page so you can come back and visit us often to stay apprised of our progress.

Thanks for visiting and come back soon.