Restoration efforts are moving to the next phase at the historic Assumption Church in west Windsor.
The church is undergoing an entensive restoration project with a new copper roof, asbestos remediation and a new heating system already completed.
The next phase will focus on paint and plaster with a total price tag of $3.5 to $4-million.
"We don't have the money to be able to undertake all that work at this time" says Paul Mullins who has been spearheading the fundraising efforts. "What we have been able to do is break it up so we would do the east aisle of the church, so 2A, and that's budgeted as $1.4-million."
Mullins says it needs to raise $450,000 and will approach the province, city and donors.
The work is expected to begin after Easter.
"The plaster is century old or more and so it needs work to make it sustainable for the entire future," adds Mullins.
A Gold Star Campaign has been launched where donors who give $1,000 will receive a replica gold star, similar to the ones that are on the church ceiling.
Paul Mullins holds up a replica gold star that donors will receive. November 29, 2019 (Photo by AM800's Teresinha Medeiros)
During the installation of a new boiler in the basement of the church, some bones were discovered.
Four pastors and a nun are buried under the church.
"Nothing had been marked, nothing had been identified," says Mullins. "When that was discovered, we decided to leave them in place."
A plaque on the wall on the east side of the church notes the discovery.
Since it reopened, Mullins says attendance is up by about 150 extra people during weekend masses.
Assumption Parish is the oldest parish in Canada, west of Montreal.