Celebrating 150 Years

St. Joseph Chapel Restoration Underway

The extensive restoration of St. Joseph Chapel that was announced in March is now underway. Work began on Monday, June 17, and the project is expected to take between nine and 12 months to complete.

The experienced artisans of the nationally acclaimed Daprato Rigali Studios from Chicago are performing the restoration on the chapel’s plaster, marble, mosaics, windows, and damaged and cracked floor tiles.

The first steps of the project will include erecting multiple levels of scaffolding to provide safe access to all areas of the 107-year-old chapel for plastering, painting, tile repair, and cleaning. This will include setting up a solid level of flooring more than 40 feet in the air throughout the nave, which will support additional scaffolding that will extend to the ceiling.

While the scaffolding installation is underway, St. Joseph Chapel will not be open for worship services. This process is expected to last about a month, until about July 15. While the chapel is closed, Masses will be celebrated in St. Joseph Hall. Sunday Masses will be celebrated at 9:00 a.m. and weekday Masses will be celebrated at 4:00 p.m. If there is a Funeral during this time, it will also be celebrated in St. Joseph Hall.

The Reflection Room across from the Heritage Room on the second floor will be available for the Monday Communion Service at 4:00 p.m. and for Eucharistic Adoration on weekdays between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. The Reflection Room will be open for prayer from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day; the complete prayer schedule will be posted.

Once the scaffolding phase is completed in mid-July, Sunday and weekday Masses will once again be celebrated in St. Joseph Chapel. The workers will finish by 3:30 p.m. each day so that the chapel will be ready in time for Mass at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. Funeral Masses will be celebrated in the chapel on Friday mornings.

“We must be responsible stewards in preserving and enhancing the chapel’s safety, integrity, and beauty,” said Sister Deb Fumagalli, President of our congregation. “That is why we must take these restoration and preservation steps now.”

Your patience and understanding throughout this process are appreciated. We will share updates and photos at every stage of the chapel restoration process.