Father Larry Niese, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Church, in Woodstock, waves to the crowd from a lift where he was taken on Good Friday to bless the new church steeple. The parish is building a new church that will be dedicated Aug. 29.

WOODSTOCK—St. Michael the Archangel in Woodstock is building a new church. And the construction of the exterior is steadily being completed for the Saturday, Aug. 29 dedication.

Debbie Quinn, the parish office manager, reported that on Wednesday of Holy Week, the new church steeple and cross were lowered onto the base. Parishioners were concluding the family, outdoor Stations of the Cross as the steeple was raised. Father Larry Niese, pastor, blessed the Celtic cross before it was raised up and attached atop the steeple.

On Good Friday, Father Larry was lifted up to the steeple where he blessed it and waved to the cheering parishioners below.

It was an accomplishment for the pastor since he is “very much afraid of heights,” reported Quinn.