Spreading the news

Did you see the story on Fox 8 this weekend? Check it out:

 

Visit the News&Record's article here. And we're tickled that they linked readers back to our blog to see the great time lapse video that Connie Book and Tom Martin collaborated on.

And you can see another short story on WFMY-TV's website DigTriad.com.

Finally, check out News14Carolina's story here.

How are you spreading the news?

Don't forget to tell your friends and neighbors about our Open House on April 25th from 2-4pm!

When a building becomes a church

We've been "Making A Place At The Table" for more than a year and a half now. This afternoon, the structure we've all been watching on this blog stopped being a construction project, stopped being a building and instead became a church.

It happened at 3:00pm, according to Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio, during his remarks at the end of a wonderful rite of dedication.

Some 1,200 parishioners, priests and other special guests gathered outside on a beautiful spring day to begin the rite of dedication. This was the first church dedication I've ever attended, and I found the experience moving.

Bishop Peter J. Jugis led the ceremony, sprinkling holy water on the walls of the church. He used chrism on the altar, rubbing the mixture of olive oil and balsam into the marble surface to consecrate it. Then it was time for the incense.

The perfumed smoke rose high from the altar, up to the bottom of our crucifix. As it rose, the sunlight coming in through the clerestory windows caught it and created an interesting effect.

Can you see how the light from the windows looks like beams coming in from above?  I heard a lot of folks commenting about this moment after the dedication. Then preparations were made at the altar to ready it for Mass, and that Mass completed the ceremony.

Some of  you may be wondering: did the church fit 1,200 people inside? How many were left standing? None. We all had a seat, and frankly, I think we could have fit another 50 people inside the main sanctuary comfortably -- and that's not counting the day chapel. We all had seats and elbow room.

Afterward a lovely reception filled the cloister area outside the church -- and I bet we can expect to see more of them. I overheard Tom Martin telling folks who asked how the walkways were designed wide enough to hold tables and still provide room to pass by, making it a perfect spot for special events and other celebrations. 

As Monsignor said in his closing remarks, we should remember that this ceremony isn't the ending of a project, it's really a beginning. 

St. Pius the Tenth Catholic Church Time Lapse

Tom Martin took photos of the construction as it unfolded from the same location for 401 days. You can watch "Making a Place at the Table" go from 401 days to 1 minute.

HAPPY EASTER!!

I want to wish all the faithful followers of the MAKING A PLACE AT THE TABLE Blog a happy and blessed Easter. We are now less than two weeks away from celebrating the first Masses in our new church.

As our construction draws to its conclusion I thought I would post one last series of photos to share several images that you will enjoy in years to come. As has been mentioned before, the light entering St. Pius X will give us different views throughout the day and almost serve as a clock depending upon which Mass you attend. During construction, I have shared several photographs which show this, however, none that reflect the true beauty you will witness in person. ENJOY!!


These next 2 photographs were taken at 9:00 AM and show the statue of the Blessed Mary.










































This photograph was taken at 8:00 AM. You can see how the sun shines on the Crucifix. You can also see the sun coming through the clear story windows and forming a staircase on the far wall.




































Any trip by the church at night will enable you to see the beautiful brick cross over our front entrance. This photograph and the one below were taken as I arrived for the 7 AM Easter Mass. What a beautiful view as we celebrate Christ's resurrection.













I have enjoyed sharing our progress with you over the past year with posting on the Blog. I appreciate all the kind words that were posted in comments as well as those shared with me in person. There will continue to be posting as we have our dedication as well as others that will chronicle our construction, however, this will be the final posting by me prior to the dedication.

GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS,
TOM

Three rocks become our cornerstones

Last week on Palm Sunday, our parish celebrated one of the last steps before we dedicate our new church building -- laying the cornerstone. In our case, we have three.

One came from Italy, the birthplace of our parish's namesake -- Saint Pius X. Traveling in the suitcase of a parishioner, this rock may look a little different from most cornerstones.

The second comes from Peru, from our sister parish. Chiseled from the same traditional limestone of the churches there, we will cement our bond. (Literally!)

Our final cornerstone looks the most traditional of the three. It matches the stones used for our new facade.

All three were blessed by parishioners in the days leading up to Palm Sunday, and then officially by retired Bishop William Curlin during a ceremony after the 9:00am Mass. Our entire congregation joined in a procession to place the three stones on a cold, wet morning.


Here's a look at a photo slideshow of the event:



And if you would like to see video:

IT'S MOVING DAY

I arrived Tuesday morning just as parents were beginning to drop off students for another exciting day at SPX School. At the same time, equipment was arriving to begin the process of moving the trailer which has been home for all the workers helping "Make A Place At the Table" for us. Since I've become a cub photographer and video operator, I documented the event. I only wish I had thought to sing that song from the Sound of Music that the Von Trapp children sang that goes "So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen Adieu... Adieu, Adieu, to you and you and you, Good Bye." In any case enjoy the video which I took while dodging Rush Hour travel as I stood in the middle of North Elm Street.

STAINED GLASS WINDOWS AT NIGHT

As I drove to 7:30 AM Mass on Sunday, I almost wrecked my car, as I glanced at our "Place at the Table". The lights were on and you could see the beautiful stained glass windows. Since most folks aren't up that early mass, I took a couple photos to post.



As I've mentioned, we are beginning the work that will build our stone retaining wall at the Day Chapel entrance and the last of the brick work on the west wall.



After all the lifts were removed, we took several photos from the school parking lot overlooking the Kloster Center.