Altar ready for Pentecost Mass

Bp. Robert Banks will bless the $800,000 renovation project at Ss. Peter and Paul Church at the 4:15 p.m. Mass Saturday, May 18.

The renovations include a new altar, installed this week, completing renovations that began last Nov. 8.

The building, constructed in 1905, was last renovated around 1970, said Fr. Tom Farrell, pastor. Updates included repainting, adding a new heating and air conditioning system, and updating the tile flooring, sanctuary furnishings, the confessional, lighting, statues and stations.

"All we were going to do was paint," Fr. Farrell said. "We went a little more than that, which is very nice."

He said half the project's cost came from what was left from an elevator project two years ago. The other half came from pledges and fund drives.

"The parishioners were very supportive," Fr. Farrell said. "The people really put in time and worked well together. They took on the project as their own."

While renovations were underway, Masses were held in the church basement, except during holiday seasons, when they were moved into the more spacious gymnasium.

Fr. Farrell said that when an altar is replaced, it must be dedicated and anointed by the bishop before any priest may celebrate Mass on it. The altar will be used at the first Mass presided at by newly ordained Fr. John Girotti on Pentecost, May 19 (see "Wauwatosa native to be ordained priest").

"The bishop was so kind and very accommodating to dedicate on Saturday so the new priest can use the altar," Fr. Farrell said. "We just barely got it all in, but everything has gone really well, overall."