By Mary Frances McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 3/24/05)

In the last phase of the sanctuary update, Father Edward Hathaway, pastor of St. John Parish in McLean, blessed the new tabernacle on St. Joseph’s Day, last Saturday.

"We want a suitable dwelling place for our Lord that is not only secure and functional, but also made of noble materials and beautifully crafted to reflect the dignity and awesomeness of our Lord truly present in the Eucharist," Father Hathaway said in his homily. "We tend to beautify what is important to us, not only our bathrooms and shopping malls, but our sanctuary. And this sanctuary is a testament to the value we place on what happens here."

Over the last year, Father Hathaway has seen that the work begun by former Pastor Father Jerome Daly, who began the installation of marble on the altar platform, has continued with the installation of a marble altar, ambo and tabernacle platform.

The new tabernacle is a work of art — covered in gold and carved with liturgical scenes on three sides of the outside and part of the inside. The gold is so polished on the inside of the tabernacle it resembles a fun-house of mirrors that never ends.

Key holes are hidden behind secret latches and tiny, hidden doors that James Bond himself would have trouble figuring out.

The tabernacle was donated in memory of William F. Tempe. It was constructed by Talleres de Arte Granda, a liturgical arts company based in Madrid. New candlesticks, a lectionary cover and a new censer were also made by Granda.

The entire sanctuary is now an opportunity for catechesis, to teach about what happens at every Mass. On the pulpit the words "in principio erat verbum" are carved into the marble — in the beginning there was the word. On the altar, "et verbum caro factum est" — and the word was made flesh — describes what happens on the altar during the consecration. On the tabernacle pedestal it is written, "et habitavit in nobis" — and dwelt among us — explaining that Jesus in present in the tabernacle.

On three sides of the tabernacle, scenes from the incarnation and nativity of Jesus decorate the gold structure. The inside of the tabernacle contains a scene from the Last Supper.

Built into the door of the tabernacle is a luna. When the main door is closed and a smaller door is opened, there is a circular compartment to hold a host for adoration.

St. John Church was built in 1956 in an octagonal shape, "in the round" — with the altar in the center of the church surrounded on all sides by pews. It was furnished with a wooden, collapsible altar and simple, gold-painted tabernacle stand. These pieces were replaced this year because "materials should not decline in quality as you get to the centerpieces of celebration," Father Hathaway said. "It should reflect the finest we have to offer. It really adds a lot of dignity to have nice things. We beautify what matters to us."