News

Neenah church expanded

St. Margaret Mary Parish in Neenah will dedicate its newly renovated and expanded church at 4 p.m. Saturday, April 12, with Auxiliary Bp. Robert Morneau celebrating the Palm Sunday liturgy.

The dedication will begin in the school gymnasium with blessing of the palms, followed by a procession to the church and the consecration of the altars. After Mass, there will be a reception in the new lower level social hall.

Fr. David Koch, pastor, said work on the $3 million project began in June 2002. The goal throughout, he said, was to "incorporate as much of the old so people have a sense of ongoing tradition."

Increased capacity

Within the church, the altar was moved from the north end to the east side. This permitted seating on three sides and increased the capacity from 320 to 585. All the pews are padded.

The new altar is made of marble from one of the church's original two altars; its legs are made from pedestals from the former communion rail.

Behind and above the altar is a stained glass window depicting the Trinity and Creation, Fr. Koch said. The parish environmental committee suggested the themes.

Beneath the window is a crucifix that was part of a reredos or ornamental wall that was original to the church; statues of Mary and the Apostle John, that were part of the reredos, now stand on pedestals to either side.

The wood panels behind the altar once hung on the church's north side. The ambo is inlaid with wood and marble from church furnishings.

The dark wooden beams with gold crosses from the original church have been replicated in the ceiling over the new ceiling west of the altar. Fr. Koch said the church kept the old stained glass windows but added clear panels on either side to let in more light.

Shrine for Mary

On either side of the new seating are niches for statues. The south side one will be a shrine for Mary. Free-standing statues of the Holy Family will be placed in the north side one, which will also house the nativity crèche at Christmas.

A baptismal font stands in the entrance to the church. Opposite it is the reconciliation room. Nearby is the parents' room.

A piano and organ console have been installed for the choir.

The gathering space leading to the church can be entered from a carport or steps from the school. It has a small kitchen.

Adoration chapel

The high point of the 10,000 square foot addition is the perpetual adoration chapel, which Fr. Koch believes is one of only three or four in the diocese. It will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, beginning at 7 a.m. Easter morning. It has a separate entrance, its own library, 10 chairs with kneelers, and a restroom.

The altar the tabernacle sits on is made of marble from the church's original altars. Behind the altar will be a stained glass window, donated by Dcn. Jim Asmuth, depicting St. Margaret Mary and the Eucharist.

The addition also includes a bride's room and rooms for children's liturgy of the word and storage, a social hall, kitchen and meeting room.

Parishioners met for weekend Masses in the school gym during construction.