Extensive renovation has been completed at St. Mark Catholic Church of Marion, Holy Family Parish, and parishioners wish to invite the community to see the changes.
A public open house is planned from 2 to 4 p.m. April 19. Refreshments will be served in the parish hall.
The brick church was constructed in 1952, and needed extensive remodeling and improvements.
The interior was renovated with former sacristies converted to a large gathering area. New sacristies were built in other areas of the church. Double-glass doors were added between the new gathering area and sanctuary, as were tall windows to allow visibility of the sanctuary from the gathering area.
The wall behind the altar has new arches and new statues of Mary and St. Joseph adorn the altar area.
Seating was increased with new pews in a revised pew layout. Confessionals were relocated and allow for face-to-face and private confessions with handicapped accessibility.
A bathroom was made handicapped accessible.
An additional parking lot was constructed on the south side of the church with a new carport and ramp to allow accessibility to the gathering area.
New carpet, tile, and paint also updated the church.