LOCAL CHURCH GETTING MAJOR OVERHAUL
Monday, July 7th, 2008 -- 2:00 PM
The first thing you notice when you pass St. Mary's Catholic Church in Neillsville is the trees are gone.The large pine trees that stood in front of the church for decades were removed as part of a multiple phase reconstruction process.
Father "Woody" Pace says the church, which was constructed in 1923, hasn't received a major update for quite a while?
"There have some renovations along the way, just cosmetics. The last major cosmetic change was in 1972, then in 1978, the elevator was added on with the vestibule and car port," Pace says.
The 5-year reconstruction process comes after 4 years of study.
"We re-roofed the church and dried out the basement by digging down to the foundation and drainage tile," Pace recounts, "We're moving forward now?first, we're building a new vestibule to the front side of the church."
Within two years, work on the interior will begin. That process will include redoing the sanctuary and "gutting" the basement/kitchen, Pace says.
The first phase of the project alone is costing the 470-household congregation around $900,000.
A big commitment.
"We've had about 120 parishioners involved along the way," Pace notes, "Discussing design as well as function, and really, why do we need this."
"It's been impressive how people have responded with their generosity and their interest level as well."
The first phase of the project is slated to be complete by February.
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