Top Photo: This is a panoramic view of the Sanctuary from main entrance
Photo on Bottom Left: This is a close-up view of the Eucharistic stained glass window
Photo on Right: Note the direct line between the Eucharistic Stained Glass Window, the Crucifix, the Tabernacle, the Altar and the Main Aisle as seen from the Main Entrance! This is the most prominent place to place the tabernacle in the church as the G.I.R.M. directs. It also symbolizes the central place that Our Lord should have in our lives--not in a corner or out of the church all together!
"HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THY DWELLING PLACE!"
The angel appeared to the three children at Fatima (a fully approved apparition)and taught them to say this prayer in front of the tabernacle:
"Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I offer thee the Most Precious Body,BLood. Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the TABERNACLES throughout the world in reparation for the OUTRAGES, SACRILEGES AND INDIFFERENCE with which He Himself is offended. And, through the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of Thee the conversion of poor sinners."
BLESSED BE JESUS IN THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR!
posted by Save Saint Christopher Church! | 11:05 AM
22 Comments:
Is this bunny Becker,
I thought we were friends. I'm a long time parishioner of St. Chris and I'm open to hearing new ideas in the Church.
A immersible bapstismal font (FULL OF WATER) is not a fire hazard as it is full of WATER. Be realistic, you just don't want to be like Protestants. Also, this blog is very biased. Why were these changes suggested?
To anonymous:
Yes, this is Bunny Becker. And I am glad you thought we were friends. However you did not identify yourself. I am happy that you are open to hearing new ideas in the Church. I am too, if they are fruitful and sensible, but to spend thousand (maybe millions) more to once again change our Church in no way glorifies Our Lord and this is His Home.
In an answer to the fire hazard comment about a fountain FULL of water, it is NOT the fountain itself; it is the placement in the MIDDLE of the MIDDLE aisle that would create havoc should all have to exit the Church quickly. But you are right; I don't want to be like Protestants; I value my Catholic faith and want to embrace every aspect of it. All the Churches that were made to look like Protestant Churches in the 60's, 70's, and 80's are now changing back to look Catholic. Why are we going in the opposite direction?
Maybe our friends at St. Bernadette's can help us deal with this controversy, unless they are still too busy with their own!
St. Bernadette's parish is praying to solve their problems....Maybe we should do the same.
If our Lord appeared in our church, would he be asked to go to another room? As Catholics we believe His body and blood resides in the tabernacle, in the middle of the alter, His place of honor. Why would he be moved to a back room?
It is with a heavy heart, and disappointment that I respond to your SAVE ST.CHRIS endeavors.I do believe that all of us are entitled to our own opinions regarding the recent renovation PROPOSAL.It was always my intent to attend the follow up meetings to either express my own ideas or listen to fellow parishoners input. An additional option, as stated in our parish bulletin, was to share my insights with Fr. John or members of the Art and Architecture Committee.
I graduated from St. Chris. I have been a parishoner for sixty-five years. I love St. Chris which is why my reponse is personal. To confirm my interest in parish life, I attended a meeting in March,2004,when the initial discussion of POSSIBLE renovations was presented by the Diocesan Art and Architecture representative. He showed slides of MANY renovated and newly constructed churches. I learned the meaning of so many of our symbols. Those in attendance were encouraged to discuss what they learned with fellow parishoners or priests to see if any of the ideas could be incorporated into our church in the FUTURE. It was my understanding that the follow up would be to form a committee that would study our possibilites, write a proposal, present their conclusions then be present at parish follow up meetings to hear parishoners comments. The plan has been followed. It is still a PROPOSAL, I trust that if the proposal merits change, the committee will listen. The next step will follow. I will be informed.
Change can be difficult and challenging. It can bring people together. It can divide us too. Our church is not perfect. Neither are we. I was upset when I saw three cars outside the property of St. Chris. advertising to the parish and CITY that St. Chris needs to be saved. The gospel invites us to live the gospel by the way we act. When I saw the sign my initial reaction was that those involved are using devisive tactics which will impact our parish. I hope that my assumption is incorrect. The last time the church was renovated we gathered in the gym to worship. Now I know why I loved GYM CHURCH so much. It was a community of believers gathered around a table, professing our faith, our baptismal committment and love for the Eucharist.
I look forward to seeing you at the meetings. I pray that we will be open to the Spirit, listen to one another, and trust. "Wherever two or more are gathered in my name, I am in their midst." God bless. Kathy Dailey
We'd like to respond to some commnents:
-to anonymous who said the blog was biased: this is a forum to air OUR viewpoint. We can't advertise in the bulletin or the Belltower Beacon. We can't have a presentation at the town hall meeting so this is the only way of getting the message out. We want to show the OTHER side. And yes, although we respect our Protestant brethren--we are Catholic and love the Eucharist and Christ present in the Tabernacle.
-to anonymous who said we should pray--we encourage all to do so and if you have read the blog you will see that we ask people to do so!
--to Kathy--again there is no other way to get our point across except through this blog.We can't have presentations like the one you attended. Please read the ten points sent to the bishop. This will be a divisive issue because many people see NO PASTORAL NEED for these changes and consider moving the tabernacle and statues to obscure places an insult to our Lord in the tabernacle and his Mother. The expense alone is outrageous. And many who have also been in this church and have contributed to the FIRST renovation are upset that their donations (i.e. to the mosaics) are so glibly being tossed around. Some churches who have done this have moved the tabernacle BACK to the center of the church! Also article 1180 in the Catechism states that the church is "not simply a gathering places but signify and make visible the Church living in this place, the DWELLING of GOD (our emphasis) with men reconciled and united in Christ. For these and many other reasons we disagree with the PROPOSALS. Should we not have a forum to explain our side also?
Although our previous post was rather long as we were responding to three previous comments, we would ask that you keep your comments at a reasonable length so that people will actually read them!
The meeting that I attended March 2004 was open to ALL parishoners. The invitation was published on several occasions in the Church bulletin. Kathy Dailey
I am opposed to all of the proposed changes for all of the reasons stated in this blog. I think the church is beautiful the way it is. And I think that a baptismal pool in the center of the church is ridiculous, although many a young child may enjoy it.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Any blogger that uses inappropriate language will be deleted as evidenced in the blog listed above.
This is a bit off topic, but does St. Chris still allow the heretical group Voice of the Faithful to meet on its property.
I am sure Bishop Lennon would find this very interesting since V of F was banned in Boston!
http://www.boston.com/globe/spotlight/abuse/stories4/031203_voice.htm
"Bishop Richard G. Lennon yesterday said he is not willing to lift a ban that prohibits new chapters of Voice of the Faithful from meeting on church property"
This diocese is completely out of control. Despite Pilla's departure, the gay rainbow pride flag still flies on the diocesan website (really, follow the link below), we are being robbed blind, and now they want to destroy one of the most beautiful churches in the diocese.
Pray, pray, pray for Bishop Lennon and check out this link:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1681410/posts
I can assure you moving the tabernacle and installing an immersion-style batismal font were planned as early as 2001. Fr. Schlegel and Fr. Chlebo talked about it openly with me. Don't be surprised if one of the pastoral "ministers" is a strong proponent too. This is all part of a plan to implement the pastor's vision of a protestant style of "church."
Can anyone give me information on "Future Church"? Is that group present at St. Christopher's?
I think it would be irresponsible to add more debt to an already large existing one. Why don't we reach out and help another church community? I've heard that St Colman House is in need of more money.
I hope the inactivity at this web site means that the whole project is on permanent "hold."
I think moving the statues out of the front would make the music ministry more visible.
The music at the 5:00 o'clock Mass on Saturdays has been beautiful. They are certainly a talented group of people. BUT.. why aren't they in the organ loft? They are a distraction and it seems disrespectful to have that large of a group in front of Mary. They would still inspire participation and add much to the liturgy if they were in the organ loft. It looks like they just want recognition for themselves.
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