St. Rose of Lima constructs new church

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
June 16, 2005

DENISON - The new St. Rose of Lima Church in Denison is on its way to completion. Construction of the new building began in July of 2004 and almost a year later the church is close to being finished.

"We are shooting for an August dedication, but I don't know if we are going to get a bishop by then or not," said Father Edward Murray, pastor at St. Rose of Lima. He explained that if there is not a bishop to bless the altar that they can still hold Mass, but not use the altar until it is blessed by the bishop.

The plans to build a new church have been underway for a while, noted Father Murray. Even before he became pastor six years ago, there were thoughts of building a new church.

"This has been going on for about 12 years," said Father Murray. "The previous pastors looked into renovating the old church or expanding the old church or the possibilities of working around the old church. After a lot of effort and consultation, they decided it would be best to move into a new church."

When they decided to examine that possibility, then they talked to the chancery. The chancery suggested that they build a church that seats 600 people, so that is what they did.

"We built it in such a way that if this area should grow in the future, there are two walls that can easily be taken and moved out and expanded to put in about another 200 seats," said Father Murray.

The architect as well as the contracting company used for the building are both from Omaha. Others contracted to help with the building are mostly local businesses from within Denison or the area.

"We've had some really good support from the community," said Father Murray. "The parish has been super as far as having input and people gathering together to do things. When we had our fund drive, there was great cooperation. It has been easy from that part. People wanted it, so it is always a pretty good sign of success when people desire it."

The old church was lacking a few things that the new building will provide for the parishioners. In the old building, there was no gathering space for parishioners to come together and talk before or after Mass. In the new building, there is space to allow this.

The old building also had several steps going up into the church. This made it difficult to carry in a casket for a funeral. There are not any steps up to the new building, so access in and out will be easier.

"When they put the parking lot in over here (for the old church), they didn't design it right because everything slopes towards the church," said Father Murray. "In the winter time, the snow would melt and the water will flow and it comes right down to the church and freezes. It was always a very dreaded spot for people. I think people will be very pleased not to have to do that anymore."

The parking lot for the new structure will be sloped away from the building allowing for rain and snow to travel away from the building.

The windows and walls in the new church were made so that sound could be heard properly with the sound system.

"Sound is one of the biggest problems," said Father Murray. "There is a lot of echo and reverberation. They were intent on cutting that out of this church. They put in baffling things on the balcony. The slanting of the windows was a real effort to bounce the sound in the direction that they wanted it to go. They put carpeting in to muffle the sound a little bit. The sound should be very good."

Father Murray's office along with the secretary's office will be moved from the priest house to the new building. There will also be family room and a meeting room located in the new church.

A stained glass window was taken from the old building and is now part of the new building. Father Murray explained that a woman from Fonda took pieces of two windows from the front of the old church and put them together to recreate the stained glass window that is part of the reconciliation room in the new church.

"We wanted to have something in the reconciliation room," said Father Murray. "We wanted to have a window in there. She made it into a very nice window that we are quite proud of."

There is also a new cross that is being constructed by a local man to hang on the wall behind the altar.

There are still things to be done in the new church such as putting in the pews, but it is well on its way to being completed.