We welcome Bishop Robert McManus this weekend for the Dedication of our Church and Altar. All this is taking place because of the wonderful partnership we have established one with another as a Catholic Community. We pooled our financial resources, our wisdom and our talents to create a vision of what we wanted our campus to be and worked together through listening to make that vision a reality.
I recall the memories of families with younger children sharing that from the “cry room” in the back of the church all we see are people’s back sides. From that conversation we created the “family room” as it is now. The space in the choir loft was recreated through wisdom and muscle. I will never forget the crew of men with crow bars and hammers ready to dismantle the platformed pews and transformed the space into a conference room and library.
Several parishioners told the story of Bishop Rueger when he was Father Rueger our pastor sharing his dream of using the marble from the altar rail to create matching sanctuary furniture. Where’s the marble? The very men who had dismantled the altar rail in the 1960’s showed us the various places where they had stored it, and from it was created our ambo, credence table and place of prayer around the tabernacle.
Handicap accessibility for music ministers and more space for musical instruments was taken into consideration and we created a sanctuary that is accessible to all. One family with a hearing impaired member moved us into creating our audio-visual capabilities. Some were hesitant about including technology into worship, but now that it is functioning all agree that it truly enhances our worship. People have even registered in the parish because it makes worship so much more alive.
Keeping the safety of our children in mind, the Manella Chapel serves a dual purpose as intimate space for daily Mass and a safe environment for our young people going to “Kids Chapel.” Parishioners acted as interior decorators and chose the paint colors, carpeting and flooring. On top of it, we insulated and shingled the roofs and gutters of the church and parish center; removed all the asbestos tile, angled the pews and created a more intimate worship space. Pooling our ideas and our treasure allowed us to come to this day, when with joy we celebrate the Dedication of our Church and Altar. This is right and just, for we have been dedicated already in our partnership as a Catholic Community of Sacred Heart.
Yes, we welcome Bishop McManus this weekend in thanksgiving for the dedication of our community of faith! Let the celebration begin, and may we continue to grow as a vibrant community of Catholic faithful in Hopedale and beyond.