St. Katharine of Siena Parish in Wayne has been on a quest to replace its organ for more than two decades, and the long search has finally ended, according to a report from Main Line Tonight. 

The church recently debuted its new pipe organ handmade by Fratelli Ruffatti, a world-renowned organ builder in Padua, Italy. This stunning instrument cost $1 million. 

St. Katharine had been using the same organ that was gifted by a generous donor in 1965 when a new church building replaced the outdated structure from 1895. However, because that organ had previously been used at an organ teachers’ convention, it was not meant for church use as it lacked key features, such as volume control. 

After years of costly repairs, the church started looking for a new organ in 1995. Monsignor Hans Brouwers, St. Katharine’s pastor, and church leaders worked with the finance committee to find the best solution. 

After an extensive search, an agreement with Fratelli Ruffatti was signed in 2018, and after a pandemic-related delay, the organ arrived at the church in February 2022.  

After a three-week installation, it finally debuted over Easter. 

Read more about the new organ at Main Line Tonight.