Posted: 5/10/05
St. Peterís Church building project coming
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
St. Peter's Church in Hokah will undergo some big changes this summer.
If plans pan out, the majestic brick building on Highway 44 will receive a new heating system, a rebuilt fire escape on the north side, and an addition on the west entrance.
The addition will include an elevator and restrooms at the entrance level and church level.
The three-stop elevator will provide easier access to the church, which parishioners now can reach only after climbing a long set of stairs. The kitchen/lunchroom level below will also be accessible via elevator.
With the new addition, the outside entrance will be raised several feet, making it possible to enter the church building from the west side without going up any steps.
If enough money is raised, an entrance canopy to the addition, and a parking lot between the church and rectory will also be built.
Ron Petersen, one of the projectís coordinators, thinks that St. Peterís is the only church in the United States that resides on the fourth floor.
An elevator has been a long-time dream for the church to give easier access to elderly and handicapped people, Petersen said while giving this reporter a tour on April 29.
Sometimes funerals have to be moved to another church like Church of the Crucifixion in La Crescent because people canít handle all those stairs. That happened on March 29 for Charlie Horihanís funeral, a life-long member, and thatís not right, Petersen said with passion. Several parishioners of St. Peterís have to attend mass at other churches because the steps are just too difficult to climb.
A bathroom on the church level will be a great improvement too, he feels. Petersen sings in the choir, and it is 168 steps round trip to the boysí bathroom on the first floor. ìAnd with two small boys, Iíve made that trip several times,î he said with a laugh.
Itís an ambitious plan, Petersen admitted, but he feels itís possible because St. Peterís was built and supported by people who had a lot of ambition.
A building committee began talking about the project two years ago.
People were quite skeptical at first, Petersen said. He and his wif Karen hired an architect and engineer to come up with some preliminary plans to show people. Five parish meetings were held. The majority of people felt it was time for the project, Petersen said. Some of the people who were the most skeptical are now its staunchest supporters, he added.
The church has about 200 families in its parish. Petersen called it a ìgrow or fade awayî time for the church. ìWe want to grow,î he said. ìWeíre too important to the community of Hokah not to grow.î
The parishioners are getting older, Petersen said. ìThe demographics are going to catch up with us, thereís no two ways about it.î
The first thing the experts said to do was to fix the heating system.
It will be converted from low-pressure steam to hot water. New boilers will be installed.
The estimated cost of the total project is about $570,000. The contractors project a possible 25 percent savings by parishioners doing things themselves like electrical wiring, roofing, cement work, and carpentry jobs.
Some of the contractors have personal connections with the school too. Wieser Brothers is the general contractor, and owner Jeff Wieser has children going to St. Peterís School, which is located in the building. Project foreman Bill Horihan is a parishioner and has kids going to the school, which has an enrollment of 70 students in grades pre-kindergarten-eight.
The church has raised $320,000 in up-front donations and pledges, leaving $250,000 to complete the project, Petersen said. The diocese will loan St. Peterís the amount that is pledged over a three year period. A fundraising drive is underway.
The timeline is to raise the necessary funds by May 25 and start the work this summer, with completion by the end of the year.
A lot of people have shown support, Petersen said. One parishioner, who has a handicapped son, donated $3,000 and said she wanted her son to go to church before he dies. Petersenís eyes welled up with tears as he recounted that incident.
People wanting more information or to make a donation can call Petersen at 507-895-8462 or e-mail him at rjpkjp@acegroup.cc. He is an electronics teacher at Western Wisconsin Technical College in La Crosse.
Donations can also be mailed to St. Peterís Building Fund, P.O, Box 355, Hokah,MN 55941.
Another $80,000 will be needed for the optional canopy and parking lot. Petersen is optimistic that this can be done too. The canopy and the addition containing the gathering space will enable people to congregate before and after church in inclement weather. The parking lot between the church and rectory is much needed, he added. parking on the busy Highway 44 is not real safe, Petersen feels.
Caledonia Argus
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507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com