May 6, 2014

The construction site of St. Thomas Aquinas Church - Newman Center has seen a bustle of activity in the past month. With the erection of the steel frame of the building still ongoing, the building is taking shape and the bell tower is rising above the entire complex.

On April 12th, prior to the annual UNL Red-White Spring football game, the Newman Center along with Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity hosted an open house. The event began with lunch at the PKT Fraternity house. Tours of the Newman Center were provided by the Newman staff throughout the afternoon. Over 100 guests were able to view each floor of the new building. Even Bishop James Conley, Bishop of Lincoln, attended the open house, and along with the other guests, was shown first hand the new meeting rooms, offices, and residence.

Kevin Clark and Father Robert Matya presented at the Community Night after the 10pm Mass on April 24th. The presentation provided the students with an update on the building project and process. As a special surprise and highlight of the evening, the students were invited to sign the final beam which will be placed at the top of the crossing tower of the Church.

The decorative painting of the altar and ambo are still underway at Gold Leaf Studios in Washington, DC. The tabernacle portion of the altar has finally received painting including the inscription across the gradine of the altar. Taken from the first chapter of St. John's Gospel, the inscription reads "Et Verbum Caro factum Est et habitavit in Nobis et Vidimus Gloriam Ejus Gloriam Quasi Unigeniti a Patre Plenum Gratiae et Veritatis."

Finally, the baptismal font is complete and currently in the process of being shipped to Nebraska.