Saint Joseph Church

Check us out! We have pictures, video and current construction progress for our new facility.

Parish Breaks Ground on $3.8 Million Church

Most expensive Winterset church project in city history.

Holy water was sprinkled Sunday to bless the land on which the new $3.8 million Winterset St. Joseph Catholic Church will be built. Everyone attending the brief groundbreaking service got wet. And it wasn't all from the holy water.

A light rain set in as Des Moines Diocese Bishop Richard Pates blessed the ground, as Father Chris Hartshorn said a few words, and as parishioners - over 100 strong - gathered to say they "were there" when a new chapter in church history unfolded. Former priests Father Frank and Father Ed also were there.

"Every one of you here have touched this project in some way, with your time, your talents, your treasures, your prayer and your commitment to this effort," Father Hartshorn said. "It's a time for us to celebrate. It's not my project, it's our project."

The congregation both began and ended the nearly 30 minute service with song, and then retired to the Parish Hall for a time of fellowship following the groundbreaking.

The church has been conducting a capital campaign and has about $2.5 million cash on hand, including nearly $1.9 million in pledges from the congregation.

The Winterset St. Joseph Catholic Church was founded back in 1893, and the present church, on West Green Street was built in 1911 for $8,000. The four lots on which the church, parish hall and rectory are located will eventually be put up for sale. Plans are to take the more than one dozen stained glass windows, with them to their new 8th Avenue location. The new church will be built on about seven acres of land - a parcel purchased several years ago - just south of the St. Paul Lutheran Church.

Most of those in attendance Sunday "borrowed" parking space from the Lutheran Church, and then walked about 50 yards into the field, a hay field, where the new church will be erected.

The new facility - which will have worship space for 350 parishioners - will also have a 400-seat parish hall, and both an office and classroom building. There will be space for six classrooms and three offices. "The work we are beginning today should enliven our faith," Hartshorn said. "Let us pray for this construction, our brothers and our sisters."

Jim Pottebaum read scripture from the Bible. "Behold I am laying a stone from Zion, a cornerstone," Pottebaum read from Peter. "A stone that will make people stumble, and a rock that will make them fall."

Bishop Pates delivered a brief prayer, an admittedly abbreviated prayer due to the rain. "We are grateful for everybody, especially those who have been so generous," Bishop Pates said.

Then everyone joined in a prayer, entitled "A Prayer on the Journey" printed on the back of the special groundbreaking celebration program printed for the occasion. "We are children in faith, instruments of Your divine hand. Guide us with love and care on on our journey. The past is our heritage. The present is our stewardship. The future is our gift to those who follow ..."

This article was originally published on Wednesday, September 10th, 2008 in the Madisonian newspaper. Reported by Dave Braga.

A Prayer on the Journey

Loving Father,

We are children in faith, instruments of Your divine hand.

Guide us with love and with care on our journey.

The past is our heritage.

The present is our stewardship.

The future is our gift to those who follow.

We celebrate Your name in a building crafted of brick and mortar, but built in living stone.

Each of us, a living stone created by Your hand, the Father above.

Each instilled with Your infinite love.

As living stones of the church, bestow upon those gathered for the journey,

Faith - as we are asked to follow Your call.

Hope - through You all Is possible.

Charity - sharing with all the gentleness and compassion of Your love.

On our journey, we ask only this for ourselves and fellow travelers,

In our hearts keep warm the light of Your love.

In our minds the wisdom to know and the vision to see.

In our bodies the health and well being along the way.

We ask this of You in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

AMEN

Saint Joseph Catholic Church

Suggested links