St. Malachy Roman Catholic Church

Church Renovation Project

Our current church building is the third building to serve the parishoners of St. Malachy Church and it has done so very well for about 45 years. During that time, the number of registered families in the parish has more than tripled. Based on projections, the population of the Tehachapi will see even more growth over the next 40 years. In recognition of that reality, in 2006, Bishop John Steinbock (Fourth Bishop of Fresno, 1991-2010) asked Fr Joel Davidilla (Pastor of St Malachy's Parish, 2004-2012) to start looking into the possibility of renovating the church building to add seating capacity. Shortly thereafter, the diocese contracted the services of Bill Brown AIA Professional Corporation of Colorado Springs, Colorado, to prepare a new master plan for the parish that would address the possibilities for accomodating the expected growth.

During the summer of 2007 the possibility of renovating the church building was discussed with the Parish and Fr Joel appointed a Building Committee to assist in the master planning process. The new master plan showed that it would be possible to expand the church to nearly double the current seating from approximately 400 to approximately 750. Based on this new master plan, the parish continued with the preparation of a schematic design of the renovated church. A series of parish meetings with Bill Brown were held during the schematic design process that concluded with the December 17 , 2007 unveiling of the schematic design to the parish. The completed schematic design not only increases seating, but also incorporates many much needed improvements. These include larger restrooms compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, improved access to the church, a chapel for Euchastic Adoration and the Sacrament of Reconcilation, and many others smaller improvements.

At the conclusion of the schematic design phase, the Parish engaged two critical partners to help make the renovation project a reality: John V. McCarthy and Associates of Southfield MI, a professional fundraising firm, and Aspen Builders of Tehachapi as General Contractor. This commenced the fundraising phase of the project.

The master plan led to a renovation project that is divided into three phases: 1) Adding a vestibule, new restrooms, a vesting room and bride's room to the south end of the building; 2) Expanding seating capacity by adding wings on either side of the building at the north end to make it a cruciform, rather than a rectangular church; and 3) building a Blessed Sacrament Chapel at the north end of the existing building that will share the current tabernacle location with the main church.

After the death of Mr. Brown, the Diocese hired Arin Resnicke of Golden Empire Design of Bakersfield, California, to complete Phase I. Sufficient funds had been raised by early 2011 to permit construction to begin with the assistance of a construction loan from the Diocese. Aspen Builders began work on Phase I during the summer of 2011 and completed it in October of that year.

Leap of Faith / Paso de Fe

Fundraising is an essential element of the renovation project. With the able assistance of Domingo "Sunny" Betancourt, Jr. of John V. McCarthy and Associates, the parish planned and conducted the "Leap of Faith / Paso de Fe" campaign to raise the funds needed to make the renovation project a reality. With your help, we can make our church building suitable to serve our children and our children’s children as least as well as it has served those who still know it as the "new church."

Contribute to this vital campaign by contacting
the parish office
StMalachyOffice@gmail.com
+1 (661) 822-0539.