The restoration of St. Joseph continues. If you haven't been lately, you need to stop by.

An early Texas gothic chair originally from LaGrange and dating from the 1870's was recently acquired by Fr. Ed from, where else, the Warrington Antique Show. It came from a home in LaGrange, though it's original owner may have been a lodge of some kind. On the back, in small lettering, is the phrase 'for your lodge room'. It is now the Presider's Chair, matching perfectly the altar and new ambo.

The ambo has been recently acquired by Fr. Ed from his previous parish of Mary, Mother of God/Hempstead [now St. Katherine Drexel]. The Hempstead parish, merged from the View, decided to use the Prairie View ambo and didn't have a place for the antique ambo. It was acquired by Fr. Ed in the early 1990's at the [you've guessed], Warrington Antique Show. It dates from the 1880 - 90's. Research is underway to determine its origin. It has been completely redone by Mrs. Donnel Hill in the style of the main altar which also was purchased at the Warrington antique show by Fr. Ed in about 2002-2003.

Both have been donated to the church as memorials: the Presider's Chair by Sam and Sylvia Corolla in memory of Sylvia's aunt; and the ambo by Leland and Barbara Fougeron in memory of their parents.
They are a 'must see' for all Grimes and Montgomery Counties.

The restoration of St. Joseph’s is fast coming to completion. The lighting fixtures have been installed, the sound system revamped, the pews and new kneelers being put into place, and most importantly the new confessional area ready to receive a host of penitents. It won’t be long now. The Stations of the Cross still have to be delivered and hung. Area rugs and runners are still being hunted…35’ runners are a little hard to come by.

Hopefully, we will be celebrating Advent in a St. Joseph’s Church that will in some ways be reminiscent of the old St. Joseph, but will be ready to receive an Assembly of the here-and-now, living and celebrating its Faith in the Twenty-First Century and centuries to come.

St. Joseph’s restoration is going full steam ahead. The interior has been completely restored to beaded board, which was original to the church. A new a/c and heating unit is being installed. The sanctuary floor will be refinished, while the nave of the church and foyer will be refloored. The stairs will be painted with carpeting in the loft itself for noise reduction. The sanctuary area and side sacristies will be repainted a color similar to the original when built. The beaded board in the nave and other areas will be sealed in its natural state. When will it be finished? ?Quien sabe?

The restoration of the Altar of Repose [Main Altar] at St. Mary should be completed by Bazaar time. It has been refinished in keeping with the architectural and interior design of the church. Most impressive is the painting of the Last Supper in the body of the altar. New crockets [the ‘things’ that stick out from the spires and arches] to replace those missing or broken have been reconstructed by our master craftsman and jack-of-all-trades, Bill Malek.