THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 41, NO. 27 | FEBRUARY 21, 2020
After St. Joseph Church’s structural and exterior repairs were finished, the next phase concentrated on restoring the interior to its original grandeur. The church was originally dedicated in 1900.
Beauty restored: Topeka church glows once more Story and photos by
Marc and Julie Anderson
T
mjanderson@theleaven.org
OPEKA — Overcome with emotion. Speechless. That’s how Teresa Thomas, 68, a lifelong parishioner of Sacred Heart-St. Joseph Parish, felt after the 10 a.m. Mass on Feb. 16 at St. Joseph Church located just off I-70 in downtown Topeka. It’s probably because the Mass marked the culmination of years’ worth of work for her and the St. Joseph Restoration Committee’s other seven members. Since May 2015, Thomas, along with the committee, met twice monthly to pray, review finances and plan the $7.3 million restoration project for St. Joseph Church, one of the two parishes that were merged in 2006. The original St. Joseph Church building was dedicated on Dec. 11, 1887, and served the parish until 1900, when the current church was dedicated. By the time pastor Father Tim Haberkorn was assigned to the newly merged parish in 2006, the building was definitely showing its age. A native son of St. Joseph Parish, Father >> See “BUILDINGS” on page 10
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann anoints and dedicates the new altar of St. Joseph Church in Topeka at a Feb. 16 Mass of thanksgiving marking the completion of the restoration project.
LENTEN REGULATIONS
All Catholics 14 years of age and older are obliged to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 26, and all the Fridays of Lent. Catholics 18 to 59 years of age are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday — a fast consisting of one normal meal and two lesser meals, with no eating in between. It is also recommended that Catholics find opportunities throughout the Lenten season to complement their fasts with prayer, reception of the sacraments of reconciliation and the Eucharist, and positive works of charity.