A Message from the Rector
There are so many directions to take this summer article, but one seems glaringly obvious: We’re about to open our new building! This summer marks my 10th anniversary at Saint Michael, and from the first days of my arrival, the dream of a new campus has been at the front of my mind. To imagine what we’ve done together and what we are planning to celebrate in August feels like a dream come true.
From the earliest days of our community, Saint Michaelites have had big vision. On August 2, 1945, a small group of thirty-two prospective members gathered in Goar Park next to University Park Town Hall, to sign a petition asking the Bishop to organize a North Dallas mission. That mission soon shifted to meeting at SMU’s Fondren Library before purchasing a piece of property at the corner of Colgate and Douglas. By 1948, that small group had grown to be a few hundred and held their first service as a parish in the unfinished church that we now know as Saint Michael Chapel.
That part of our history is important to remember because it’s easy to think that Saint Michael has been around for a very long time. In reality, we still have living members who were part of the group that met on SMU’s campus and helped build the first worship space on our property. The history of Saint Michael is still living history, and that history is handed to us.
Saint Michael may still be a couple of decades from our centennial, but we’ve taken the baton in our great relay race and done the work that sets us up for a second century. The amount of development on our campus over the last few years is stunning. From the office and apartment buildings to the new core of our church building, we have redefined what we can be and refocused who we are becoming.
On August 2, the new building will open to everyone. The Sunday experience—not to mention every other day of the week—will be vastly improved. We will shift the main entrance of our campus to Douglas Avenue, using the shared drive between the church and office buildings. The majority of our parking will now be in the structured garage, with a beautiful entry underground and on ground level into our Atrium. Now, when you come and go on campus, you’ll use the same path as almost everyone else, giving us an opportunity to stop and visit, deepening our relationships in the process.
This process has been a remarkable experience in the life of our church family. It’s a rare privilege to witness and support such a radical change in the physical experience of the church we love. What has happened to our community and our campus over the last five years has been extraordinary. From the incredibly generous spirit of the parishioners who supported the capital project, to those who have overseen construction, and to those who will help realize the potential of the new space, I overflow with gratitude.
In this special issue of The Archangel, we will highlight just a few of the incredibly gifted people who have helped make this dream a reality. You will see stories about the builders who have poured themselves into this passion project. You will read about an artist in our parish who is crafting beautiful pieces to bless many new spaces. And you’ll also see maps of where you can find key spaces in the new building. We are only a few short months away from opening the whole space to everyone in August, so let’s say “thank you” to those who have done so much on our behalf, and then let’s get ready together.
The building will be transformative, but you’ve likely heard me say all our efforts are not ultimately about the building, and it’s true. We’ve invested ourselves in a new physical campus that will support community growth in exciting new ways, and we can seize the moment. Let’s remember why we do all of this in the first place.
God is love, and we know that God’s greatest hope is for love to define all of creation. Because God is love, God does not coerce us into loving Him back. God loves us freely and completely, and God hopes that we will respond in love. That freedom to reciprocate love is how we know that God’s love is true. We can say no to his gift of love, but we are made to say yes.
We will celebrate a physical renewal of our community in a few short weeks, so I invite you to begin preparing for the spiritual renewal that can happen for each one of us. God has renewed his gift of love for each of us, and God hopes that we will reciprocate that love more deeply and more completely this year. Our renewed life together will draw new friends and old friends to our community, and it will be up to us to help them find a strong spiritual home with us.
Life is a gift, and life with God is eternal. Let us each embrace a renewed sense of hope for the future of our world. Hope is never lost when we truly believe that the best is yet to come—and here at Saint Michael, we definitely know just how true that is!
**This article was written by the Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Girata and was featured in the 2026 Summer Archangel.
