Summer is a time to stop and renew ourselves. We go to the shore, the lakes or for hikes and excursions so we can refresh ourselves. Our 19th century buildings also need uplifts and new life and we have some major projects coming up.
We recently removed the benches from St. Joseph’s Church, which will be refurbished and returned to the church in the late Fall. This will also allow the plastering and painting to begin, which the people have waited for a long time. Later on we hope to clean and freshen up the woodwork around the church and choir loft. We also will eventually put in a new floor and fix the terrazzo floors. This is all part of the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph and setting it for the next century. We have had to expend almost $30,000 to repair the roof on the rectory and the side of the rectory from water penetration. And some gutters, exterior cracks and stained glass at St. Joseph Church in preparation for the plastering and painting.
While the interior painting and plastering work is ongoing, St. Joseph Masses will be held in the basement Church Hall. Please enter from the alleyway next to the handicapped ramp.
At OLG, we have engineers surveying the structure as the first step toward air-conditioning the church, which with archdiocesan approval, can be done by next Spring. We will select one engineer to draw up plans and then have contractors bid on the project. This is an expensive proposition and one we can do with your financial support. This will be the last project at OLG since we have restored the entire church over the last five years. We are also replacing the OLG Rectory kitchen in the Fall.
19th century buildings require a lot of care and we have done our best thanks to you. We have a lot to be proud of with the history given to us and setting us for the future.
