BELMONT — A new crucifix has been installed in the sanctuary of Mary, Help of Christians Basilica.
Helmut Deussen, a former member of Belmont Abbey College’s Board of Trustees and benefactor of the college and the monastery, donated the crucifix in memory of his wife Elizabeth.
The crucifix, installed by Dixon Studio in Staunton, Va., features a corpus carved by the Ferdinand Stuflesser Studio in Italy.
The crucifix replaces the one suspended over the altar when the church was renovated in 1964-’65.
That crucifix was an abstract metal sculpture of the Risen Christ in front of the cross.
Following growing interest among the Belmont Abbey monastic community to replace the 1960s image with a more traditional crucifix, the monks decided to move forward with a new crucifix in 2019.
The completed corpus and cross arrived at the abbey Dec. 1 and was blessed by Abbot Placid Solari and his confreres.
They celebrated the installation of the new crucifix during Solemn Vespers Dec. 4.
— Photos by Rolando Rivas and Patricia L. Guilfoyle
