Monumental undertaking
By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN
With so many events held in a church, especially weddings, during the summer months, it's a challenge to schedule a multi-month project.
St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays settled on summer of 2009 as the time to empty the building for a massive painting project.
But it wasn't a hard decision which company to choose to do the work.
Tim Linenberger of Tim Linenberger Painting and Decorating out of Salina is a third-generation craftsman from a family that has been painting churches in northwest Kansas for decades.
St. Joseph's last paint job was done by Dennis Linenberger, the father of Tim and his brother and employee, Steve Linenberger,.
That was the early 1990s, and before that, Dennis Linenberger's uncle, Alex, painted St. Joseph Church in 1976.
"The Linenbergers have a reputation as being qualified church painters," said Wilbert Pfeifer, 81, a member of St. Joseph Parish for 76 years who serves on the parish's art and environment committee.
The Linenbergers, along with a third painter, Kevin Carter, began work on the project earlier this month and hope to have it completed by mid to late August.
In the meantime, Masses -- both daily and on the weekend -- are being said in the cafeteria of nearby Kennedy Middle School.
The Kennedy building is owned by St. Joseph Parish, and Hays USD 489 rents it during the school year.
So it is a natural alternative for church services during the summer months when necessary.
"It's air conditioned and a building that our parish owns," said Terri MacDonald, chairwoman of the art and environment committee. "We've done it before, a few years ago when a new floor was put in, so people are used to it."
"We just realize it has to be done, and I don't think people mind," said 70-year-old George Gatschet, a lifelong parishioner at St. Joseph. "It's just a minor inconvenience of life. It'll be worth it when it's done."
After nearly two full days of erecting scaffolding, laying drop cloths and making other preparations, the team started painting the highest parts first, which in St. Joseph's case is down the middle of the church.
From about 40 feet in the air, the painters rolled and brushed down the center, then completed the dome in the sanctuary.
"You have to be able to reach it with your hand to cut in," Tim said of the necessity to be close to their work.
Lucky for them, they aren't afraid of heights.
However, Tim said, "I do respect them."
While St. Joseph is bigger than the average church the painters work on, it isn't the largest.
That distinction belongs to St. Fidelis Church in Victoria, and the historic Gothic Holy Family Cathedral in Tulsa, Okla., which is being renovated and restored and the Linenbergers painted earlier this year.
"They talk about this being a labor of love for them," MacDonald said. "You can really see that."
A typical day for the Linenbergers and Carter begins about 7 a.m. and ends about 4 p.m.
They now have the process down to a science.
"We've got a plan and stick to it," Tim Linenberger said. "We've got enough experience, you try to eliminate problems before they start."
The older Linenberger brother, who is 50 and has been doing this type of work most of his life, started his own company about 20 years ago.
Carter is 48 and Steve Linenberger, 38.
They say they notice a few more aches and paints as they get older.
"It does take its toll on you," Carter said of the work.
But it's what they know, and they know it well.
Plus, "There is no way I could wear a suit and tie," Steve Linenberger said in reference to his work clothes of a T-shirt, khaki shorts and athletic shoes.
The project, which includes painting the entire interior of the church, is on schedule. The crew completed the east side of the church last week and plans to move scaffolding, which takes about two days, on Monday.
The process begins long before the paint crew arrives.
St. Joseph began planning its next big painting job about three years ago.
Tim Linenberger met with the art and environment committee a year ago to discuss paint colors and schemes.
"That's when you start thinking about colors and such," said Linenberger, who usually chooses the colors based on each individual church, including statues and stained glass windows.
This year, a new sound system also is being installed at the same time, making use of the scaffolding already is in place.
"The Linenbergers have been very cooperative letting that group get in there at the same time," MacDonald said.
Both Linenberger brothers, two of 10 siblings, got their start working as youngsters for their dad, who learned his trade from his father, Bonaventure "Bonnie" Linenberger. Bonnie and his brother, Alex Linenberger, worked together in the painting business much like their great nephews do today.
This particular Linenberger team also paints statues and does outdoor residential work as well.
"I've painted just about everything but a car," Tim Linenberger said.
But being in a controlled climate, they admit, probably is their favorite.
"This is a blessing being in, out of the sun and heat," Tim said, saying they have welcomed the addition of air conditioning churches in recent years.
"And there's no way I could wear a suit and a tie," Steve said.