Pilsen church has new life
The smell of fresh paint and new carpet will be evident Sunday as worshipers once again will be welcomed at St. John Nepomucene Church at Pilsen after five months of renovation.
Like the renewal brought on by Easter and the coming of spring, all has been made new in the 88-year-old house of worship.
Not only was the church interior repainted (it received a paint job 35 years ago), but all statuary was redone and many embellishments added, making it more attractive than ever.
Gold highlights added to trim, as well as to pictorial scenes, statuary, and furnishings, give an illusion of grandeur. Stenciled designs, also gilded with gold, crisscross the ceiling and glide along various wall edges, further enhancing the atmosphere.
Pews gleam with a new coat of shellac. The new country blue carpeting matches walls surrounding archways and statuary at the front of the sanctuary, contrasting with neutral tones on the remainder of the walls.
Stained-glass windows, thoroughly washed, glisten brightly in the light of day or redecorated lamps.
Several floodlights installed at the front of the sanctuary illuminate the platform, its furnishings, and future occupants.
The organ has been moved to the choir loft, from where acoustically-pleasing sounds will fill the sanctuary.
Much of the work was done by Don Wendt of Ecclesiastic Studios, Greenwood, Mo.
In addition to paint work, he also constructed a new lectern and communion table. The lectern incorporates pieces of woodwork from a former confessional, and the communion table includes a gate from a former communion railing.
Much of the statuary required plaster repair before it could be repainted. So also did the ceiling in the bell tower.
Gail Makovec, John Vinduska, Jeff Bina, and Randy Svitak serve as the building and grounds committee. They were pleased with the contractor's work. They said he went above and beyond what was required in the contract to do a superior job.
Baker Furniture of Peabody provided and installed carpeting. Linco Electrical of Marion provided electrical services.
Last but not least, many parishioners volunteered much time for the project.
As Vinduska said, "It took tons and tons of freewill labor."
"This church was our home away from home for many days," Makovec added.
"My wife Terry called herself a 'church widow'," Bina said with a smile.
Vinduska said the project was not only a labor of love but was necessary because of the original commitment made by their ancestors.
"They built this church with a lot of struggle and hard work. It is our responsibility to keep it up," he said.
Makovec noted that more and more people are visiting Pilsen to view the statue of Father Emil Kapaun and soldier, so it is good to have a newly refurbished church building as an added attraction.
Makovec was in Washington, D.C., and New York two weeks ago with a group from Centre school district. He said he left stacks of prayer cards featuring Father Kapaun at cathedrals in both cities. Kapaun is expected to be cannonized as a saint in the Roman Catholic church.
The Pilsen church is a member of Holy Family Catholic Parish. The Sunday morning service will be held at 10:30 a.m. A packed house is expected.
