Shelby Township — While undergoing major renovations to their church facilities, the people of St. Kieran Parish in Shelby Township didn’t want the project to interfere with their regular outreach to the poor.

“One thing that came up was an opportunity to contribute to a church in Haiti after the earthquake,” said Msgr. H. Thomas Johnson, pastor of St. Kieran.

The Haitian parish, St. Jude, is rebuilding its own church after the devastating earthquake of 2010.

“We thought it would be appropriate,” said Msgr. Johnson, who credited Martin Petz, a fellow board member of H-A-R-T (“Haiti and Africa Relief Team”), for bringing up the idea. H-A-R-T was founded by Metro Detroiters, including Fr. Sama Muma of St. Isidore Parish in Macomb.

“They had a budget of $100,000 to rebuild,” Msgr. Johnson said. “They were selling bricks at $10 apiece. We bought 1,000 bricks to contribute to construction.”

Msgr. Johnson said when the announcement was made at Mass about helping St. Jude, “the people responded with applause and cheers.”

The near-completion of St. Kieran’s facilities is cause for celebration itself; the parish now has a new altar, ambo, presider’s chair and reservation chapel for the tabernacle. Additionally, the new altar is moved closer toward the center of the church, and the new seating arrangement has kneelers.

There is also a new reconciliation room, minister’s room for the priests, vestry and sacristy; a new organ and choir risers, plus new, large windows, also adorn the church.

Construction remains on a day chapel for prayer services and daily Mass, Msgr. Johnson said, which he expects to finish in the spring.

“The people were delighted with it,” he said, citing the help and consultation from numerous parishioners. “I think they’re very proud of it. Mass was in the gym since the week after Easter; we wanted to be in by Christmas.”

Msgr. Johnson said that at the dedication Mass on Dec. 13, he said “welcome home” and the congregation “burst into applause because they felt they were finally back in church.”

The dedication Mass was an extra-special occasion due to the presence of Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron, who presided over the Rite of Dedication of a Church and an Altar.

“The archbishop was very encouraging throughout the entire process,” Msgr. Johnson said. “It was quite an honor to have him come personally to do the dedication of the church.”

Msgr. Johnson said St. Kieran has been saving “for the last 15 years,” and the $4.7 million project culminated in part thanks to fundraising from the parish’s Changing Lives Together initiative, and no money was borrowed for the construction, which also included road work and fire hydrants.

“Hopefully this newly renovated church will make other people feel welcome to extend hospitality and reach out as a form of evangelization,” said Msgr. Johnson, expressing his hope that the new facilities will “attract people to Jesus and to the Church.”