Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Parish Wednesday broke ground on a renovation and addition project at the King Steet location in Rhinelander.
After receiving a $1 million grant from the Cleary Foundation late last year, plans quickly moved forward to add a new vestibule and restrooms, remodeling the church to create a new gathering area and worship space. Officials say the project is expected to cost $3.6 million.
Father Randy Knauf is pastor at the church. He says plans have been in the works for a dozen years and they hope to have all the work done by Easter of 2018.
He says there will be some temporary changes while construction is going on...
"....we're going to move all of our liturgical life, all of our masses are going to move to our north site up on Stevens Street at the former St. Joseph school and church up there, literally everything is going to be there, funerals, weddings, Sundays, everything is going to be there for the next 8 months..."
The former St. Joseph's Parish and St. Mary's merged 12 years ago.
Father Knauf says much planning has gone into the project...
"....we're very happy about today. It's been literally years and years of planning. We've had to readjust. Our needs have shifted a tiny bit. We've had different kinds of approaches to the project. But we think we finally have something that is within our ability to take care of and serve our needs...."
Father Knauf says the main church hasn't had significant renovation since it was built in 1962. Miron Construction is the general contractor.
