Our current organ is nearly 100 years old. It was used in the previous St. Denis Church building, then stored in an outside building before being installed in our current church. Its parts are worn out, and many no longer function properly. Three different organ technicians have evaluated it and concluded it is no longer worth repairing. Replacing the system will be more cost effective in the long run.

Many of the parts and features on our organ do not work properly. The organ must be turned on 30-45 minutes prior to playing so it warms up. The volume pedals are broken. Half of the chimes do not work. Digital aspects of the organ function about half the time and are not predictable. More issues will continue to arise until the organ can no longer be used. Minor breakdowns are becoming significant mechanical failures. We are used to hearing this organ as it has been declining over the last decade or so. The decline is gradual enough that we think it “still sounds fine.”

Yes. The pipes are high quality and can be cleaned and re-tuned so they sound new again.

The original organ was purchased in the 1930s for a much smaller worship space. Without adding pipes, the organ would still be undersized for our current church.

Our current organ was manufactured in the 1930s. A new pipe organ should last around 80 years.

After consulting with other organ companies (digital and pipe), the St. Denis renovation team made the decision to hire Reynolds & Associates from Marion, IN to restore our organ. Their intricate knowledge and level of ability to refurbish and create new mechanics, pneumatics, and tonal characteristics was a deciding factor. Reynolds uses high-quality materials for the repair and replacement of parts, ensuring long-term use and function of the organ. This company has been in business for approximately 55 years. They have restored and renovated many organs in a variety of churches and are known for their expertise and quality work. Reynolds is a specialized organ company that will pay close attention to details, keeping in mind our budget and needs to fit the space of St Denis. After the installation of the new organ, Reynolds’ technicians will be available for annual maintenance and tuning to ensure the organ is working properly along with the church’s acoustics.

St. Augustine Catholic Church in Minster, OH.

Pipe organs are intricate, handcrafted instruments with thousands of custom components. Repairs require specialized craftsmanship, which is both rare and highly skilled. The cost reflects this level of expertise and labor.

The pipe organ holds a rich history and theological symbolism within the Catholic Church. The pipe organ dates back to the early Middle Ages (around the 10th century). It became the primary instrument for liturgical music over the centuries. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal mentions the organ as the primary instrument. The Second Vatican Council document Sacrosanctum Concilium (1963) explicitly states, "The pipe organ is to be held in high esteem in the Latin Church, for it is the traditional musical instrument which adds a wonderful splendor to the Church's ceremonies and powerfully lifts up man's mind to God and to higher things." The pipe organ has the unique capability to uplift hearts, unify voices, and create an atmosphere of sacred worship through its ability to create both delicate and grand sounds according to the various emotions within the Mass. By repairing the pipe organ, we will continue to inspire and lead worship with reverence for generations to come.

Restoring the organ may take a year or more. For part of the project, the work will be completed in the Reynolds facility. The project will become noticeable when the pipes are removed for cleaning or when the console is removed and replaced.

No. A committee was developed to strategize how to best renovate the undercroft. Moving the bathrooms and creating 2 meeting areas will be paid for with a Certificate of Deposit at the Archdiocese that was labeled for retirement community in the amount of $150,000. Recognizing that $150,000 is not going to build a retirement community, the Archdiocese gave approval to apply the money to the bathrooms and the conference rooms, with 1 room being for senior citizens.

Plans are for the fundraising campaign to end in Spring 2026. The St. Denis renovation team will manage construction according to funds raised, planning for completion in Fall 2026.

Fees for weddings, funerals, and private rentals for the undercroft are under review and will most likely not be raised immediately. It is hopeful the community will see other uses for the undercroft, such as private meetings or seminars.

No. Keeping track of donors (which is confidential) over any period of time and with staff changes would be difficult to manage.

St. Denis parishioners have proven their obligation of financial investment to the parish and the Archdiocese. We have a duty to continue to support the Archdiocese, the cathedral and the special collections for social justice; however, understandably, parishioners want the monetary gifts to go to the parish only. The Friends of St. Denis recognizes such commitment and has made this option possible that your gift will go 100% to this campaign, but in no way replaces collections for the parish that cover operational expenses.

Possibly. Your financial advisor can help with this question. Most commonly known is the QCD (qualified charitable distribution). If you are 70-½ and have a traditional IRA you can donate directly to the Friends of St. Denis. You can also donate appreciated stock for tax savings. For more information, call St. Denis at (937) 526-4945.

If the Friends of St. Denis does not raise enough money for the planned organ restoration, we may have to downgrade to a smaller, less expensive option. The undercroft renovation will be adjusted according to available funds.