|
Fremont parish marks 150 years with church restoration |
|
|
|
Written by LAURIE STEVENS, Chronicle Writer
|
|
Thursday, 01 May 2008 |
FREMONT—Fremont St. Joseph Church reopens this month following the completion of a dramatic restoration planned in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of parish.
After celebrating Mass in the parish hall for the past four months, project coordinators expect the congregation to be back in the worship space by the first weekend in May.
“People are going to be astounded,” says Gregory Kuns, a parishioner on the core committee coordinating the project with pastor Father David Bruning.
Along with enhancing the worship space, Fr. Bruning says the project emphasizes the heritage of the parish, which was founded Dec. 8, 1857, by German settlers.
The current church was modeled after the Cathedral of Our Beloved Lady in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. It was dedicated in 1893, and renovations last took place around 1993.
A small group of parishioners began studying the need for church improvements in 2004, and Mr. Kuns even traveled to Germany to visit the Cathedral of Our Beloved Lady. He photographed the church to show St. Joseph parishioners where the designs originated for their own church.
Such details were difficult to make out in the Fremont church, which was “whitewashed” in its more recent history. Mr. Kuns says he and other members of the environmental team used to hang colorful fabric to decorate the interior.
Mr. Kuns is thrilled the parish was able to hire artisans from Conrad Schmitt Studios, Inc., to bring out the intricate details of the church. The Wisconsin company is renowned for restoring the interior of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at The University of Notre Dame.
Blue and gold accents are being added throughout the church to highlight the plaster designs and symbols and complement the stained glass windows.
The color of the wood in the church is being darkened to match new, solid oak pews. Burgundy carpet will be laid in most of the church, and marble flooring will be installed in the sanctuary under the altar.
The reardos wall behind the altar is being rebuilt to accommodate the crucifix that was in the front entrance to church. The crucifix replaces a statue of the risen Christ that was on the wall.
The Stations of the Cross, which were painted in a dull gold color, “are now being brought back to vivid color — which is what they were originally,” says Mr. Kuns. “It brings so much more detail out.”
He also points out a large pieta statue that will be repaired and repainted after being in storage for 30 years. “I’ve been working on getting this out of the basement for years,” says Mr. Kuns.
The parish has already raised most of the money for the improvements, which will cost approximately $800,000, through a liturgical grant from the Father Schafer Endowment Fund and a pledge drive undertaken by the parish.
The campaign is named “Our Glorious Legacy” because “this is for our kids and for our future,” explains Mr. Kuns.
“It’s a house of God. You cannot have anything too beautiful,” he adds.
To coincide with the interior renovations, a small group of parishioners also raised enough money to light the steeple of St. Joseph for the first time. Mr. Kuns says the structure was built as a travel beacon and is the tallest and most visible in town.
“It has had wonderful reviews, being lit at night,” he adds.
The parish plans to celebrate its worship space with tours and fellowship on Pentecost Sunday, May 11, the second weekend after the church reopens.
Along with welcoming regular parishioners back into the church, Fr. Bruning is hoping the event attracts some people who have been away longer.
“It’s kind of a way to welcome people back, and hopefully, maybe there might be a few people who will come back on a more regular basis, too,” he says.
Gregory Kuns, one of the parishioners coordinating the renovation of Fremont St. Joseph Church, admires the arched ceiling while standing on top of scaffolding. Blue and gold accents are being added to bring out the intricate plaster designs. (Chronicle photo by Laurie Stevens)
|
