GREENSBORO — On a most fitting feast day, the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Father Joseph Mack dedicated the new altar of St. Paul the Apostle Church. The June 19 celebration was the culmination of hard work and generosity from the parish family who, in imitation of the ineffable love of Jesus, poured their hearts and souls – and sweat – into the church’s recent renovations, only to give still more of themselves through patience as they waited out the pandemic restrictions to enjoy the fruits of their labors.
“What is an altar?” Father Mack asked the congregation during his homily. “On it is where we as God’s faithful people come together to participate in the one everlasting perpetual self-sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the cross for our redemption. On it comes down the power of the Holy Spirit upon ordinary bread and wine which is transubstantiated to become truly the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ. Literally you can make the statement: An altar is at the very heart of the church, and I mean every parish church; it is His Heart.”
Indelibly adorned with a carving of Jesus and His Sacred Heart chosen long before the scheduling of the dedication, the altar underwent the rites of sprinkling, anointing, incensing, covering and lighting. According to the “Rite of the Dedication of an Altar,” these are visible signs of the invisible work the Lord accomplishes through the Church in the divine mysteries, especially the Eucharist. Serving with Father Mack in the Mass and dedication rite were parish Deacons Larry Lisk and Mike Martini as well as members of the Ashby and Disney families, who placed the altar cloth and presented the cross and candles.
An altar dedication is relatively rare, usually happening just once in the life of a parish. Typically, a bishop celebrates this rite, but on this extraordinary occasion Father Mack was delegated to dedicate the altar.
In his homily, Father Mack explained that every church should have an altar that is permanent, immovable and substantial – the new one at the Greensboro church is more than 1,000 pounds and replaces one that was movable. The older altar will now be used when parish groups gather for Mass in other locations on campus.
Parishioners pitch in
Through their many works of charity and lives centered around the Eucharist, the parishioners intuitively know that when they give their whole heart to Jesus, they receive far more in return. Francis and Patti Disney, who donated the altar and ambo in memory of deceased loved ones, are examples of this.
“There’s no greater gift than what happens on the altar. For us personally as family, our parish family, and then as a family of God as the universal Church, it’s not just a piece of furniture. It is something that every day will be a place where graces just flow to those who receive,” Patti Disney said. She also noted the poignancy of knowing that their late daughter, Amy Elizabeth Disney, was at the dedication in spirit as part of the Communion of Saints.
“It’s not us,” Disney explained. “God is the one who provides; we just said yes. It’s the glory of God. It’s not Patti and Francis Disney. There’s no greater gift than the Eucharist and to know, in some small way, we are united to this is just so beautiful.”
Father Mack and Francis Disney, who owns Disney Custom Homes, hired Cardinal Millwork to bring the altar and ambo design to life. “The carved Sacred Heart image is something Father chose a year ago and the altar was designed around that and fastened to the floor,” Disney explained.
Because of the weight of the altar, Disney and other Knights of Columbus braced the floor so it wouldn’t creak or move. They also did electrical work at that time. Disney chose Amanzi Marble, Granite & Tile in Kernersville for the templating of the granite altar top that was selected to complement the existing credence tables. Upon completion, first-class relics of St. John Neumann, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton were placed in the altar just prior to the placing of the granite slab, sealing them inside.
Planning for the renovations began three years ago, and the parish set up a dedicated account for donations. After receiving a quote for updating the pews and adding kneelers, they were only $25,000 away from the goal. The parish’s Knights of Columbus Council 13236 donated $5,000 and organized a parish fundraiser, and soon the financial need was met.
The updates include the new altar and ambo as well as new carpet, pews, lighting and, for the first time, kneelers. Susan Rabold, the parish’s youth minister and a parishioner since 1993, reflected on the addition: “It’s so fantastic to have the kneelers in place now. During Mass, part of the congregation kneels and part stands, and I think that kneelers are going to bring unity because everyone can feel like they can kneel, get back up and not be hurting their knees on the floor.”
Getting the pews removed and replaced with kneelers was a team effort that involved much forethought and practice disassembling and reassembling pews.
“Arnold Jeffries and I spent weeks, if not months, pre-planning for any possible gotchas that might happen,” said parishioner and Knight of Columbus Peter Ashby, who helped lead the removal and installation of the pews. “Everything, including demolition, went smoothly. We planned three days, and we were done in six hours. By the time the flooring people came in, they were amazed. We put out a call for volunteers, and the parish stepped up to the plate. The Knights are here to support the church, and they came out in full force.”
Jeffries agreed. “There were people here who struggle to walk, and they were helping,” he said. “We just kind of sit in awe that it all took place as well as it did.”
Peggy MacDowall and Pam Johnson helped with the color scheme, making sure the carpet, stain for the pews, and existing woodwork complemented one another.
A porcelain dove, representing the Holy Spirit, graces the new ambo. The porcelain figure was discovered in the basement of the old parish rectory, and parishioner Erik Saalmuller applied white and gold leaf to refurbish it. Saalmuller also painted the existing “Conversion of St. Paul” image that hangs near the baptismal font.
Waiting is the hardest part
Anticipation was palpable as the June 19 celebration approached. Parishioners hadn’t attended Mass inside their church since Ash Wednesday, Feb. 26, when the renovations began. They planned to complete them in four weeks – in time for the Easter Triduum. In fact, they were two weeks ahead of schedule throughout the entire process.
However, COVID-19 pandemic restrictions that began mid-March forbade large gatherings indoors through Easter and beyond. Until June 19, Mass was celebrated in the parish hall and attendance strictly limited. By mid-May, a larger congregation gathered outdoors for Mass on Sundays. Father Mack chose to wait until the state’s Phase II reopening was well underway to have more of a parish celebration.
“We’ve been waiting on pins and needles,” Ashby said prior to the dedication. “Because, you know, we did all this work, and now we’re in a holding pattern.”
Milestones at St. Paul the Apostle
Known for its community outreach coupled with emphasis on the Eucharist, St. Paul the Apostle Parish was founded in July 1974 when Bishop Michael J. Begley of Charlotte invited the Paulist Fathers to staff what would be the fifth Catholic parish in Greensboro.
The first Mass was celebrated in Cross of Christ Lutheran Church. During the three-phase building plan, the parish congregated in various Protestant churches and a funeral home. The Paulist Fathers ministered at the parish until 1991, when the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales assumed leadership. The parish is now led by diocesan clergy. Bishop John F. Donoghue dedicated the present church in 1993.
“I remember when we built this facility and how excited we were when we did the dedication,” Rabold recalled. “We were just thrilled to have the new sanctuary, and this is just as exciting as the day we opened and dedicated it. We’re excited about the new altar, the relics in the altar and bringing a greater level of sacredness to the prayer space.”
A month before the 2020 renovations started, parish facilities director Bruce Tucker told his pastor he was having dreams they wouldn’t finish in time.
“Father said, ‘Don’t worry. We’ll make it.’ He had all the confidence in the world,” Tucker said in awe.
“I know who I have working for me,” Father Mack added with a smile. “This parish is blessed with an amazing staff and volunteers.”
Becoming more serious, he explained what the enhancements mean to him. “For any priest, Holy Mass is the center of our daily prayer life. It helps us to come together in our faith and recognize the importance of what we’re doing here.” Then, he pointed to the altar: “Central focus.”
— Annie Ferguson, correspondent
