The debris was totally cleaned up by the end of last week.  The crane was moved out on Friday.  This week, was the time for engineers and architects to go to work.  Sandman submitted their calculations for the loads of the roof trusses to Comstock Construction and the replacement truss rafters were placed on order on Monday.  Northland Truss will design, build and deliver them sometime the week of April 8.   Comstock ordered the crane to be delivered for Monday, April 15 and they will begin setting new rafters at that time.  The plywood will be placed over the trusses and the total roof covered with a “ice & water shield” membrane at that time and then the parish center will be waterproof.  In the meantime, this coming Monday, April 1, Comstock will be removing the EFIS (dri-vit) from the wall on the side of the gathering space gable end.  This will enable a metal flashing to be placed in the seam between the new roof and the wall it abuts to.   This will be hidden by shingles and the replacement EFIS when reapplied.  Sig Olson and Sons Plasterers will be the contractor repairing the EFIS coating and at the same time repairing some areas where it is cracking.  They feel they can match the color well and we will not see any patches or repairs.
 
Calculations for “beefing up” of the existing truss rafters and/or beams will be completed next week and provided to Comstock.  At that time, they will cut access holes in the roof in various strategic areas and go in with the reinforcing lumber to make repairs to the existing truss rafters.  The shingles that are on the roof are ten years old so we purchased a bundle of new shingles from the same manufacturer and color and laid them on the roof as a test.  The existing shingles have faded so much the new shingles looked like they didn’t belong.  I decided we would totally re-roof the total church building after repairs are made so it does not look like a patch job at completion.  Our insurance company has agreed and will cover the cost of a new roof.
 
With all the input from engineers and architects, the building permit was applied for with the City building codes office and we should have it on Monday so re-construction can officially begin. 
 
JUST MY THOUGHTS--We have been truly blessed throughout this whole ordeal.  Even though we lost a roof and the use of the south side of our building, the Boy Scouts and the Parishioners are all safe; NO injuries.  The Moorhead Firefighters were able to react; shut off the natural gas and sealed the gathering space from the weather.   Trades people from St Francis de Sales were able to shut off gas and eliminate damaged gas lines, maintain heat in the church, restore water service, isolate damaged electrical systems and reconnect key circuits for temporary heat and light.  The Wednesday maintenance crew has been working overtime to secure the building, Comstock Construction was able to act immediately to become our general contractor and clean up the mess, Sandman Engineers were able to work us into an already full schedule, Foss Architects will be producing drawings next week and reconstruction will begin within three weeks of the devastation.  On top of all these blessings, a call to the Hispanic community and they began shoveling snow off the roof; Brent Dietrich brought his boom lift to hoist them onto the roof; Jason Lee driving by and noticing the roof collapse and then bringing his company’s heavy equipment to clean our parking lot so everyone could gain access.  Vern & Bruce Senger began blowing snow to assist in the melt.  This was all happening on Sunday, March 10.  Then the offers of assistance which came from the Mormon Church of Fargo, Our Saviors Lutheran, our neighbors, offering their facilities and help, St Elizabeth’s accommodating our mass schedule and providing meeting rooms, Karen Thom putting up with the hectic schedule she is now faced with at St Elizabeth’s plus having surgery this week and Deacon Tom Cerar for making us feel so “welcome.”  Then came St Joseph’s; providing office space for Dennis or as it is affectionately called “St Francis South”; Andrew Hilliker opening the school for our religious education classes on Wednesday night, allowing the Salad Bar Luncheon to take place on May 1 as scheduled in their gathering place, opening their schedule for a wedding, making the gathering space available to the KC’s for the Lenten fish fries and to top it all off; our Fall Festival will be held the first weekend of October as always . . . but at St Joseph’s Church.  The Parishioners of St Francis de Sales are able celebrate Eucharist and worship together as family at mostly the same times only temporarily in a different location. 
 
Most of all, if we could all keep Fr. Raul in our prayers.  He has been asked to do things this last month that they do not prepare you for in the seminary.  He is Dean of our deanery, he is acting as priest for four parishes right now and soon to be Holy Week; the busiest time of the Church Year.  If at times he seems to be pre-occupied, he probably is.  At times, we may feel inconvenienced but we must surely be thankful for all the blessings that God has bestowed on us.  Our family is truly one with God!  ‘Til next week . . .
 
Swede Stelzer, Parish Admin. Coordinator