TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) – A Catholic church in Topeka is getting a $2 million face lift.

KSNT News paid a visit to the historic St. Joseph Church Sunday to witness the start of the project.

It’s the beginning of a project the congregation has been waiting two years to start.

“I’m so excited, said Father Tim Haberkorn. The project that we started today really began over two years ago when a committee was formed to look at the possibility of restoring this beautiful house of worship.”

Father Tim Haberkorn says that not only the outside of the building will be restored but there are parts of the inside that desperately need to be updated. One of those is an elevator for the inside of the church.

“The inside won’t start until we have the money raised for that and so once again we’re relying on God’s providence to work through the generosity of people’s hearts.”

Father Haberkorn tells KSNT News they hope to have the outside restoration done by the fall of this year.

Project coordinators tell KSNT News the two clocks on the top of the church will stop during the restoration process. They will be restarted at the end of the project.