Our Vision

Our Vision Vestibule Project

Brief History and Vision

Saint Simon Stock Parish was established when two parishes – Saint Edward the Confessor Parish in Pine Hill and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Berlin officially merged on November 4, 2009. Saint Simon Stock Parish nurtures the rich traditions of faith, family, and community of both Saint Edward Parish and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish. In 1953, Saint Edward the Confessor Parish was formerly created, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish was formerly created in 1903. Prior its merger, the existing church building we are currently using was completed in 1993. During the construction of the existing church, it was originally intended to have a church vestibule with a foyer. Due to financial challenges facing the Parish then, the church vestibule was never built.

Today, through the parish-wide Capital Campaign for the Church Vestibule Project, we will bring to life that vision of a far more beautiful and more Catholic environment for prayer, worship, and community-spirit. We will also provide needed facilities to support the growing and vibrant ministries of our community, now and into the future.

The construction plan will create a quiet chapel, two confessional rooms, a sacristy, a foyer, altar servers’ room, family room with small children (formerly known as cry room), and an attractive new main entrance to the Church that faces the parking lot.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel (or Mary’s Chapel)

The Quiet Chapel will be named as Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel or Mary’s Chapel. The Blessed Mother Mary is extremely important in the life and faith of the Church. The new chapel will have a sacred altar and beautiful liturgical retable. This will create an ambiance for prayer and reflection. This chapel with its welcoming environment will offer peace and tranquility to parishioners and families. Since the tabernacle will still be in the main the church, the chapel (without the tabernacle) can be used during weddings to provide a place of privacy for the bride with her bridesmaids.

Confessionals

It will a great addition to our project to have two confessional rooms with one handicapped accessible confessional room. The current and existing confessional room was a make-shift temporary room and not accessible to people with physical disability. These two confessional rooms will address the accessibility problem and will make the sacrament of reconciliation and forgiveness more available to all parishioners and families. The new and comfortable confessional rooms will foster a better experience for the Sacrament of Reconciliation – God’s grace and forgiveness.

Family Room with Small Children

The current cry room will be renovated into a family room where families with small children can go during Mass without leaving the church building. New speakers will be installed in this room so that families using this room can still listen and participate in the Mass.

The Sacristy

The Priest’s Sacristy will be on the left side of the foyer in the vestibule. It will have sacred space for the deacons, priests, and bishop to vest and quiet prayer before the celebrating the Eucharist and the sacraments.

Foyer: The Sacred Space of the Church Vestibule

The foyer, better known as the vestibule, will be built to welcome our parishioners with their family and friends. The dedicated vestibule will serve as gathering space for everyone who visits our church.

There also will be a minimal discreet side kitchen facility which will allow for refreshments for the Family Mass, Ministry Sunday for the Faith Formation (Religious Education), School Mass, youth ministry, senior ministry and other Church-related groups and activities. The vestibule will encourage Parish celebrations and social gatherings. An over-hanged canopy will extend over the entrance to allow for a covered drop-off in inclement weather.