Parish inaugurates restoration appeal

The roof of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Hancock has started to fall down, so the parish is asking people to step up.

When Rev. Stephen Morris, pastor, returned from a three-month sabbatical in Italy last January, he was told a truss had broken. As that truss continues to drop, it is taking the attached roof with it (read more details by going to www.evangelist.org and searching for "Hancock").

The parish hopes to replace the entire roof, install new rafters and bring the building up to code by the time the snow flies again.

The assessment and temporary fix of the problem have already cost St. Paul's more than $35,000, and the parish has launched a fund-raising campaign with a goal of $400,000.

Father Morris noted that St. Paul's parish, which dates back to the 1830s, has always been a good neighbor to the community. For example, it played an important part in raising and distributing funds to help victims of last summer's floods.

The parish also houses and operates the local food pantry as well as the Hancock day care and preschool. Father Rausch Hall, adjacent to the church, hosts A.A. meetings as well as Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups.

"Now, we're the ones in need of help," Father Morris said. "We like to pay our own way, but this project is simply too big for our small congregation of 230 families. We need to cast the net far and wide."

According to church records, the present church dates from 1885.

"There is no indication that these early Catholics were rich," Father Morris said, "Rather than rich, they seem to have been determined, generous and creative."

In addition to the roof, the parish needs to replace the parking lot, which has always had drainage problems, and the front porch of the 108-year-old rectory, which has been declared unsafe.

The $400,000 campaign goal includes those additional projects. 

"God will surprise us, even stun us, with where our help will come from," Father Morris said. "The generosity of some will humble us and move us to recount God's mercies."

He noted that he and the parish have been the grateful recipients of frequent acts of generosity, adding: "These gifts enable us to carry on our work, which is not maintaining buildings but proclaiming the Gospel."

(Contributions to St. Paul's roof restoration campaign can be mailed to St. Paul's Church, 346 W. Main Street, Hancock 13783. Contributions should indicate "roof restoration.")

(8/23/07)