Our shepherd watching over the Church restoration.
“Then David said, “This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel.” So David gave orders to gather the foreigners who were in the land of Israel, and he set stonecutters to hew out stones to build the house of God.”
1 Chronicles 22:1-2
The historical photo shows the ornamentation of the St. Peter’s church Sanctuary, with its very intricate patterns. The stained-glass windows visible in the photograph were bricked over in the 1958 renovation. Current windows installed in 1995 came from St. Mary’s church in Rifle, CO.
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The removal of the floor has revealed a similar attention to detail there, where the tiles were placed in a very specific grid, delineating three original aisles.
Speaking of the floor, after the removal of the floor in the choir loft we can see the slightly “tired” wood that carried the weight of the organ for about 90 years.
This week’s work consists of plumbing for both the church and the Youth Center, removal of the small amount of asbestos found in the glue in the original church floor, and laying down the concrete in the basement.
The removal of the floor has revealed a similar attention to detail there, where the tiles were placed in a very specific grid, delineating three original aisles.
Speaking of the floor, after the removal of the floor in the choir loft we can see the slightly “tired” wood that carried the weight of the organ for about 90 years.
This week’s work consists of plumbing for both the church and the Youth Center, removal of the small amount of asbestos found in the glue in the original church floor, and laying down the concrete in the basement.
“The bricks have fallen down,
But we will rebuild with smooth stones;
The sycamores have been cut down,
But we will replace them with cedars.”
Isaiah 9:10
As the old floor is being removed, we have also lifted from the floor the “Last Supper” mosaic. This piece was a fairly recent addition to the church, and – according to the St. Peter’s folklore – was installed by Fr. Rocco Porter after one of the altar servers spilled the blazing coals from the thurible, causing some burns to the carpet in that spot. In our restoration, the floor of the main aisle and the area in front of the Sanctuary will be finished with a decorative tile, to enhance the interior of the church.
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Two photos show the mosaic in the floor just before the restoration process began, and when it was removed. The archive photo shows the state of the St. Peter Roman Catholic Church after the 1995 renovation (notice: the northern addition wasn’t added until 1997).
Two photos show the mosaic in the floor just before the restoration process began, and when it was removed. The archive photo shows the state of the St. Peter Roman Catholic Church after the 1995 renovation (notice: the northern addition wasn’t added until 1997).
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We cannot forget that the current work includes also finishing the Youth Center located in the basement of the office building. Included photos show the current, empty state of the area.
Finally, we also wanted you to see the work that has been done in the last couple of years, which you may not be aware of. The last couple of photos show the attic above the main nave of the church, that has been finished last year, in order to provide safe access to the sealing during the current restoration efforts.
We cannot forget that the current work includes also finishing the Youth Center located in the basement of the office building. Included photos show the current, empty state of the area.
Finally, we also wanted you to see the work that has been done in the last couple of years, which you may not be aware of. The last couple of photos show the attic above the main nave of the church, that has been finished last year, in order to provide safe access to the sealing during the current restoration efforts.
“Then I explained to them how God had shown his gracious favor to me, and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us begin building!” And they undertook the work with vigor.”
Nehemiah 2:18
This first photo shows St. Peter Roman Catholic Church circa 1937, in its most adorned state. The Image of “St. Peter receiving Keys to The Kingdom from Jesus” was moved to the back of the church during the renovation in 1995. The restoration in 1995 also revealed that the ornate decorations from mid 1930s are still present under the current drywall. (photo 2)
This week, the work inside the church includes the demolition of the choir loft floor, removal of the shelf under the northern stained-glass window added in 1997, and removal of the 1995 soffit from the sanctuary.
This week, the work inside the church includes the demolition of the choir loft floor, removal of the shelf under the northern stained-glass window added in 1997, and removal of the 1995 soffit from the sanctuary.
“The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God”
1 Corinthians 1:18
This image, taken in 1958, shows St. Peter Roman Catholic Church remodel completed in mid-fifties. It’s the first time when the sanctuary was adorned with the big crucifix which remains there till this day.
On August 2nd, 2023, the crucifix was taken down and placed in a storage, where it will remain until the end of the current restoration process, when it will be put up again as a centerpiece of the sanctuary.
Other work this week includes the removal of the floor. Under the carpet, installed in 1995, there are still visible the remnants of the floor from 1958, with terazzo in the center aisle and wooden tiles in the pews area.
“In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth and the earth was without form or shape, with darkness over the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping over the waters.”
We are embarking on a journey of the process of restoring our church building and creating a dedicated youth space. It is a project that will require patience and dedication. We are reminded of the first few verses of the Book of Genesis where it is said that “In the beginning … it was without form or shape”, and so is our church after the removal of its liturgical furniture. Yet, we are excited and look forward to seeing the church building restored to its former glory.
“By the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread, Until you return to the ground, from which you were taken; For you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:19
Until we return to our church, we’ve moved our liturgies to the parish hall, which – as you can tell – looks familiar.
Weekend Masses as usual:
Saturday 4 PM (Anticipatory)
Sunday 7 AM, 9 AM, 11 AM, 6 PM
“Then God said: Let there be light, and there was light. God saw that the light was good. God then separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” Evening came, and morning followed—the first day.” Genesis, 1:3-5
This is the oldest known photo of the interior of St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, taken in 1909, the year church was consecrated, the “first day”. 114 years later, that same light God has put in the hearts of the Catholic community of St. Peter’s shines bright, refreshing the beauty of the house that was then built to worship The Creator.
Last week we have made our church building ready for the work, preserving the marble of the sanctuary and removing all of its interior, with pews claimed by our parishioners and the liturgical furniture moved to our temporary space in the parish hall.
The last piece to be moved it the beloved crucifix. It will be reserved and return to the sanctuary when the restoration is finished.
“Then I explained to them how God had shown his gracious favor to me, and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us begin building!” And they undertook the work with vigor.”
Nehemiah 2:18
This first photo shows St. Peter Roman Catholic Church circa 1937, in its most adorned state. The Image of “St. Peter receiving Keys to The Kingdom from Jesus” was moved to the back of the church during the renovation in 1995.
The restoration in 1995 also revealed that the ornate decorations from mid 1930s are still present under the current drywall.
This week, the work inside the church includes the demolition of the choir loft floor, removal of the shelf under the northern stained-glass window added in 1997, and removal of the 1995 soffit from the sanctuary.
