St. Leonard Catholic Church and School Breaks Ground On $2.4 Million Addition

St. Leonard Breaks Ground On $2.4 Million Addition

MUSKEGO - St. Leonard Catholic Church and School broke ground Sunday, April 23, on a $2.4 million addition that will expand its ministries and transform its facade to a more welcoming entrance.

The new Parish Center at W173 S7743 Westwood Drive features a 3,739-square-foot gathering space.

"By gathering more easily, we can directly experience again and again that we are many parts of one body with one mission – growing in the image of Jesus Christ," said Father Dan Janasik, pastor of the 60-year-old parish. "At the same time, we will be better able to minister to families celebrating sacraments such as weddings and mourning loved ones with funerals."

Archbishop Jerome Listecki of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee helped celebrate the 9 a.m. Mass that preceded the site blessing and groundbreaking. In a light-hearted touch, those attending enjoyed hundreds of "dirt dessert" cups made by 22 parishioners.

The Parish Center addition will include a large gathering area as well as a small kitchen, a childcare area, a liturgical ministry office, food pantry storage, and a meeting room to serve the parish of about 1,700 families. The front facade - now dominated by a metal roof that slopes from west to east - will feature two peaked roof lines more typical of church architecture.

"We'll finally have a welcoming entrance that matches the welcoming nature of our parishioners," Father Dan said. "But this is all about growing and expanding our ability to spread the Gospel and reach out to our community."

Berghammer Construction Corporation, Butler, is the general contractor for the project, which also includes a new organ and new church carpeting.

Off-and-on discussions about adding a Parish Center to the church entrance date back to just a few years after the current church was completed in 1980.

"Our community is excited! We hope to have our new space completed in time for Christmas," Father Dan said.

To find out more about St. Leonard, which includes a grades K4-8 school, go to www.stleonards.org.