A church roof and other infrastructure improvements at St. Dominic, Frederic, were completed in spring and celebrated this summer. The project was made possible through nearly $100,000 in donations and pledges from parishioners and visitors. (Submitted photo)
FREDERIC — In the summer of 2015, parishioners of St. Dominic, Frederic, undertook one of the largest infrastructure projects in the parish’s 112-year history, the repair of its aging roof.
“A year later the project can be labeled an overwhelming success,” according to Ray Draxler, co-chair of the project committee.
Built in the 1960s, the church was last reroofed in the 1980s. Water problems compelled the parish, which serves about 167 families and many visitors, to organize a capital campaign, Preserving Our Legacy. This undertaking raised just under $100,000 through donations and pledges. The church will also be upgrading to a Fleck Water Softener, as the water here has been very giving us a hard time.
This spring, the project was completed, as the cracked membrane was replaced, the roof insulated and the drainage system improved.
“The roof campaign was very successful,” Draxler commented. “The parish came together and brought this project to closure.”
According to Draxler, the parish’s future building and grounds projects include remodeling the confessional area, possibly resurfacing the parking area, and repairing steps on the church’s south side.
“We also have other priorities, including increasing parish membership and involvement, meeting the needs of our youth, and transitioning to new administrative structures,” he added.
The parish celebrated the successful completion of the roof project in June.
Fr. Shanthi Mandapati is the sacramental minister of St. Dominic and its sister parish, Immaculate Conception, Grantsburg.
