By RODNEY HART
Herald-Whig Staff Writer
Rev. Dan Bergbower's homily at St. Peter Catholic Church Saturday mass was simple -- dream the dream, and it can happen.
St. Peter broke ground Saturday on a $4.1 million renovation and modernization of the seven-acre complex at 2600 Maine. Crews begin work Monday morning.
The ground-breaking itself was cut short by a driving rain, but it didn't prevent the hundreds attending from eating inside the school gym after mass. They all wore yellow construction hats with the Living Stones theme imprinted.
Bergbower, St. Peter pastor, thanked congregation members and supporters for making the project a reality. He even sprinkled holy water on about 20 people who braved the rain to turn dirt for the ceremonial groundbreaking.
"We've already received about half of the money, with the other half pledged," Bergbower said. "I'm not surprised. I've seen it done in other parishes."
A key component of the Living Stones project will be the addition of a $415,000, 2,184-square-foot gathering area called a narthex at the west entrance of the church. A new $103,200 canopy will accent an entirely new look for the front of the building.
A $362,750, two-story addition will be built on the south side of the main school building. Key ingredients will be three classrooms and a music room. Also planned is a $200,000 parking lot on the south edge of the property that borders Chaddock School.
Much of what will be done, however, falls under modernization and maintenance of existing components such as heating, air conditioning and electrical systems.
The Living Stones capital campaign began as an $8 million concept more than a year ago but was scaled back. Donations and pledges eventually totaled $4.1 million.
Increasing security and safety features for St. Peter School, which is housed on the same property, has been a concern, Bergbower said. Some classrooms are now in the basement of the church, but all students will be in a more central location at the completion of the project.
An enhanced library and computer area are part of the plan, plus the addition of two classrooms at the back of the building currently housing the gymnasium.
Inside the church, the project calls for spending $70,400 for installation of an elevator and $70,400 for installation of two handicap access ramps. The elevator will be at the southeast edge of the narthex.
A second elevator at the same cost will be installed in the two-story addition to the existing school building.
No seating will be added to the nave area of the church, which seats about 500, but improvements will make overflow easier to deal with during special services like Christmas and Easter.
The Living Stones project will be done in three phases, the first two involving work to the church and school. The third phase will include $88,000 for demolishing the Tolton building and the addition of a $95,000 connector drive and sidewalk that will allow for an easier flow of traffic between the parking lots on the east and west sides of the church.
A parking lot will be added to the south end of the property.
Schlipman Construction is serving as contractor.
-- rhart@whig.com/221-3370
