Construction Update - May 14, 2025

Dear Family Members, Friends, and Benefactors,

We hope that you all are enjoying the grace of this Easter Season. The link below will take you to an article published by The Catholic Spirit, the Catholic Newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. The story of the article covers our chapel building project along with the capital improvements of the neighboring monastery of Carmelite Nuns. We invite you to check the article out and to share it with others who might be interested.

construction projects Underway in Lake Elmo

Since our previous update of March 4, 2025 the entire concrete floor has been completed - a big milestone for the interior of the chapel. Unfortunately, we were not able to take any photos before things were brought in for storage. Here is a view looking towards the sanctuary, the altar will be on the raised platform seen beyond the floor fan.

Construction slowed down during the late winter. With the arrival of spring, and dry sunny weather, work on the exterior has begun. The primary focus is on the granite water table which surrounds the entire exterior base of the chapel. This stone deflects water, which runs down the side of the chapel, away from the foundation.

Granite water table around main apse.

The granite still needs to be washed and the sun is strong, so please pardon the brightness of the photo above. Brick will be laid on top of the granite and form the exterior wall.

Granite water table on chapel side.

Rev. Elijah Schwab, O.Carm.Carmel of the Blessed Virgin Mary