St. Joseph's Wesley completes renovation
Globe staff report
Posted April 18, 2002

WESLEY - St. Joseph Church here recently completed a $200,000 makeover.

The parish dates back to 1891 and its present church building was constructed in 1901. With 2001 its centennial year, it seemed fitting for the parish to start a renovation project that year.

Father Dan Greving, pastor, pointed out renovation began last fall and continued through the majority of the winter season.

On March 18, a day before the Feast of Joseph the Husband of Mary, Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo was on hand to celebrate the vigil Mass and bless the newly renovated church. A reception followed in the parish hall.

The project included plaster repair, painting the main body of the church in neutral colors with bright accents, painting of the Stations of the Cross and statues in shades similar to the original colors, stripping and staining the pews, a new sound system, carpet, remodeling of sacristy and repositioning of the altar. Three murals were also restored - one was of the death of St. Joseph, another was of the ascension and a third, located in the choir loft, was of St. Cecelia, patroness of musicians.

With the parish named St. Joseph, the pastor said it was particularly fitting that the mural of their patron saint was restored because it has great meaning to the church.

"During the remodeling, four to five months, we had Mass in the church basement which was remodeled back in 1995," Father Greving explained.

The work was done by Kaiser Church Decorating Company of Dubuque along with many hours of donated labor by parishioners.

"The parishioners put in a lot of effort in making it happen," he said. Volunteers tore out old carpet, reworked stairs, did electrical and carpentry work."

The pastor pointed out that he stepped into the project mid-stream, adding that former pastors Father Paul Bormann had the vision to establish a building fund and Father Lynn Bruch formed a renovation committee. The committee offered recommendations on various aspects of the project.

"The project brought the parishioners together," said Father Greving. "It was something the parish really wanted to do and it allowed the parishioners to have ownership as they had input in the whole project - and they did it well."

It is important for parishes to keep up their buildings, he noted, because churches are houses of God. Nice church environments can lend to greater enthusiasm in worship.

Final touches are yet to be made this summer. Plans are to replace a mechanism in the bell and cover the outdoor steps.