by Moira Cullings
moira.cullings@theleaven.org
LEAVENWORTH — Parishioners of Sacred Heart-St. Casimir Church here had a difficult decision to make.
Would they demolish or renovate St. Casimir’s old Education Center, which hadn’t been used in years?
As Jenevieve Murphy, a member of the finance council, learned more about the history of the building, she wanted her fellow parishioners to know what they could be losing.
More than a century ago, Polish immigrants settling in Leavenworth founded their own parish, beginning with the building of St. Casimir Church.
According to the parish history, “The men did most of the work themselves, after a hard day’s work in the factory or mine, by the light of the moon or a lantern.”
They began construction in the summer of 1893, and the church was completed the next year.
“And then, they built the rectory around 1905,” said Murphy, “and that is the building that is now the St. Casimir Education Center.”
To honor their handiwork, which contractors said continues to remain structurally sound, parishioners chose to renovate the building for the first time since 1987. It was completed this spring.
The center is now a bustling meeting space for groups of the parish, particularly its OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program.
“I think it just goes to show,” said Murphy, “that your parish community can do a lot.
“[It can] really strengthen your church family and your community by coming together and doing what they can to support everyone as a family, as a community, as a faith group.”
A pathway to Sacred Heart
In 2006, St. Casimir and Sacred Heart parishes were merged into Sacred Heart-St. Casimir Parish.
The Sacred Heart Church building has also required updates in recent years, particularly with accessibility.
In 2023, the parish installed an incline platform lift to help parishioners get from the fellowship hall up to the church proper.
In 2024, it demolished its outdoor ramp leading to the church entrance.
“The ramp was about three times out of ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) tolerance,” said parishioner Mo Minchew, who was part of the building committee. “It was very steep in sections of it.”
The lack of accessibility kept parishioners from attending Mass, so a new, longer ramp was put in, with construction starting Sept. 3 and ending Nov. 22.
On Nov. 24, 2024, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann blessed both the ramp and Education Center following Mass at Sacred Heart.
“I love this church of Sacred Heart,” he said in his homily. “It’s so beautiful, and I commend you on keeping it beautiful.
“It shows a priority of your faith and your love for God.”
Father Marianand Mendem, pastor, said the parish improvements were long overdue.
“Our people are mostly elderly people and find it quite difficult to walk the many steps to come into the church,” he said. “It was worse when there was ice and snow.
“We strongly felt the need of making a new ramp, which is more accessible and welcoming to our elderly faithful.”
Father Mendem was also excited to renovate the Education Center so his parishioners could have a comfortable and convenient meeting space.
Funding the future
All three of the projects were funded by the archdiocesan One Faith, One Family, One Future in Christ capital campaign and its Parish Property Revitalization Fund.
The fund helps parishes in need of repurposing or demolishing buildings that aren’t fitting the current needs of the community.
The total cost was $100,000 for the Education Center; $406,000 for the ramp; and $57,000 for the incline lift.
Julius Kaaz Construction Co. was the contractor for the ramp project.
The main contractor for the Education Center was Piotr Miller Contracting LLC, which renovated the ceilings, flooring, ramp up to the building, walls, wood staircase, and the windows and woodwork around them.
Alan Thompson did the chimney work and repairs; Chuck’s Plumbing and Heating, Inc. replaced the pipes and water heater; and MDB Electric did the electric updates.
Murphy said the Education Center renovation wouldn’t have been possible without the support of parishioners.
After it was completed, multiple groups purchased a refrigerator and other items to fill the kitchen, she said, as well as furniture for the meeting space.
The enthusiastic response to the building has been amazing for Murphy to see.
“Apparently, it’s being utilized all the time as a meeting space for groups and organizations, the different altar societies and the men’s group,” she said.
Minchew, who’s been an usher and greeter at Sacred Heart Church for years, said the ramp has also brought new life to the parish, as parishioners who were unable to make it to Mass have now come back.
“It’s just been a fulfilling experience,” he said. “It was a community involvement to make sure this thing was everything we needed it to be, and it would serve the community for a long, long time.”
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