St. Anna Parish event hopes to turn up the heat

Source: Sentinel and Enterprise
Author: Sara Arnold

LEOMINSTER -- The St. Anna Parish church could use a little warmth this year.

The church's parishioners and pastor have been keeping the community church going strong, despite some difficult years. However, they are now in desperate need of HVAC renovations - and a fundraiser coming up this weekend could provide some help.

On Saturday, February 24 at 7 p.m., there will be a concert of Lenten Reflection at the church featuring organ music by Parish Organist Mike Hoffmann as well as choral and solo vocal music by the church's professional choir to raise money for the needed work.

Father Carlos Ruiz is certainly due for some good news. Since coming here in 2020, the pastor has had his work cut out for him, trying to break out into a new community as COVID ramped up. But, so far, he doesn't seem to sweat it.

"Although I am sure filled with worry, you never saw him in despair over all the repairs that needed to be done," said Hoffmann.

So, as the world shut down during COVID, Ruiz, a brand new pastor at the church, pivoted from in-person worship to services on Facebook Live and YouTube. He eventually transitioned back into in-person worship.

And, throughout that time, Ruiz has completed many renovations. He replaced the windows, a boiler, front doors, and front porch of the rectory for efficient heating, cooling, and security. In the fall, he found a new principal to lead the school two weeks before the start of this school year and, in September, he dealt with the epic flooding in Leominster that left the school underwater.

In December 2023, the boiler failed which is the only supply of heat to the sanctuary and parish hall. They put a temporary heating system with generators in place of a hole and frame in one of the stained glass windows, and the same in the basement, which became their only source of heat. It served well enough for the church to remain open, but on a recent frigid day during a funeral, the temperature inside didn't rise past 50 degrees.

Upon further inspection of the HVAC system, Ruiz discovered that one air conditioner was completely broken and the three others in the church, which were installed at the same time, were also failing.

"We can potentially function without air conditioning or partial air conditioning and be slightly inconvenienced during the summer, but a heated building is important not only for the comfort during liturgical celebrations but also for keeping the pipes from freezing,' Ruiz said.

He added, "There certainly was no possibility of an instant replacement." It is unlikely the church will receive a new boiler for the current winter season, but Ruiz is hoping for an installation in the fall or winter.

Ruiz told parishioners the situation during the first mass after he learned all of this, but donations have been slow.

Ruiz reached out to the Chancery Office in Worcester to try to figure out a plan for the future, but there is a long bureaucratic process with the Diocese for capital projects in their parish. Multiple quotes must be obtained and Diocesan engineers need to be involved as well as an overall inspection of the entire HVAC system by the Diocese.

Over the past two months, Ruiz has been meeting with the Diocese and Parish Finance Council to get things moving on that end.

Ruiz does not have an exact cost of the replacement. He said "I can't speculate with numbers right now. The evaluation and replacement process is ongoing and there are other plumbing upgrades, which also need to be made for the project to be successful. I can't give you a number because I don't have one. Coming up with an off-the-cuff number would be irresponsible to the parish community, citing that the price could be more or less than what initially had been thought. We need a clear plan and a complete cost of the project before we can release the information to the parish."

"The church is not in a state of woe, but carefully taking the necessary steps to adequately assess the systems and make prudent choices in the best interest of the parish," according to Hoffmann.

Cantor Olivia Minchello said, "It was important for all the professional singers to come back and support this church as Saint Anna is so blessed to have them during the major liturgical celebrations and this is our way of giving back."

On April 12 and 13 at 7 p.m. at Leominster City Hall, the North Worcester County Symphony Orchestra' will also hold a benefit for the replacement of the HVAC system. It will be part of their secondary concert series, Artful Blessings, with sixteen professional singers, a 40-piece orchestral track, and special guests doing Broadway heroes and villains. Tickets for that can be purchased directly from the orchestra's website.

Also, the church will be serving Lenten fish dinners on Friday evenings throughout Lent.