St. Joseph Church installs steeple and bell

PENINSULA TOWNSHIP -- Construction onSt. Joseph's new church on Old Mission Peninsula is almost complete.

Fridaymorning the steeple was hoisted into place.

The steeple and bell, standing at almost 60 feet and weighing nearly 4,500 pounds, was blessed and then lifted by crane onto the rooftop in about 10 minutes. Monisgnor Thome, ofSt. Joseph Church,explained the steeple reaches up toward heaven while the cross is a world-wide symbol of Christianity, therefore it's important to bless them before attachment to the church.

The bell has been with the church since 1915, and in its new home will be operated mechanically instead of by the old rope pulley system. Church representatives said this is because the 100-year old pulley required ropes to hang down and the bell to be manually rung (and could sometimes flip over if the ropes were pulled too hard) - so the switch to electronic is safer.

"Idon't know if there's any excitement left we are already so enthusiastic!" said Monsignor Thome."We've been watching it day by day, and we know all of us can relate to the winter of discontent, where we all had to wait and wait and wait for everything - but especially those of us in this area watch day by day to see what was happening with our new church."

St.Joseph hopes to have their first service in the new church July 5.

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St. Joseph Church installs steeple and bell