“We have come together to dedicate this altar by offering the sacrifice of Christ. This is a day of rejoicing,” said Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde who presided over the solemn dedication of the new altar at St. Philip Parish in Falls Church last Saturday.
“May this altar be the place where the great mysteries of redemption are accomplished, a place where your people offer their gifts, unfold their good intentions, pour out their prayers, and echo every meaning of their faith and devotion,” said Bishop Loverde.
He was assisted during the Mass by Father Kevin Walsh, pastor of St. Philip; and Fathers Joseph Vu, parochial vicar, and Mauricio Diaz, in residence. 
In welcoming hundreds of parishioners in both English and Spanish, Father Walsh said: “You are in communion with your parish church, you are in communion with your diocesan church, you are in communion with the Church throughout the world at the altar where we participate of the mysteries or our Church.”
Father Walsh said that after many years of preparation, and much work and sacrifice, the new altar of the renovated church is no longer a dream.
“Now our Lord has blessed us with this beautiful renovation. This is the culmination of great efforts made over the last five years,” the pastor said.
Regarding the generosity of parishioners, Father Walsh also mentioned that “it has brought me to reflect, once again, on the fact that the most important Church is the one built of living stones, made up of each and every one of you as a member of the Body of Christ.”
The altar is made of three separate pieces of polished Jerusalem sandstone. The solidity of the stone symbolizes permanence.
St. Philip has 3,500 parishioners and other recent renovations have increased the sanctuary’s seating capacity to 720.

Alfonso Aguilar can be reached at aaguilar@catholicherald.com.Alfonso Aguilar can be reached at aaguilar@catholicherald.com.

(c) Copyright 2007 by Arlington Catholic Herald