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An Epiphany gift for St. Louis Church

Dave Borowski | Catholic Herald

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde anoints the new altar at St. Louis Church in Alexandria with sacred chrism Jan. 3.

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Burning incense rises from a container on the altar of St. Louis Church at the rite of the dedication of the altar.

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A bare altar and empty tabernacle greet worshippers at St. Louis Church before the rite of dedication of the altar Jan. 3.

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Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde anoints the new altar at St. Louis Church in Alexandria with sacred chrism Jan. 3.

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When worshippers came to 12:30 p.m. Mass at St. Louis Church
in Alexandria Jan. 3, they saw an altar without linens or
candles. The tabernacle was open and empty; the Blessed
Sacrament having been moved to a temporary sanctuary.

For four months, renovations to the church disrupted the
usual worship schedule, but last Sunday parishioners gathered
for the dedication of the new altar.

Planning for the renovation began in 2013 and work began in
September. The project included new pews, a baptismal font,
ambo, new flooring under the pews and new carpeting in the
aisles. The new altar, ambo and baptismal fonts were made in
Sarzana, Italy, and decorated with mosaics.

During the renovation, the sanctuary was used every weekend
except for Nov. 21-22, when the new pews were installed.

Daily Mass was celebrated in McLunn and Walsh halls for a few
weeks, but Mass returned to its traditional place on the
feast of the Epiphany, with the new altar ready to be blessed
and dedicated.

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde concelebrated the altar
dedication Mass, assisted by Fathers Matthew H. Zuberbueler,
pastor; Wilhelm J. Ettner and Dort A. Bigg, parochial vicars;
Paul L. Dudzinski, in residence; and Thomas P. Ferguson,
vicar general and pastor of nearby Good Shepherd Church in
Alexandria.

After processing to the altar, Bishop Loverde blessed the
altar with holy water, then walked through the church
blessing the sanctuary and the congregation.

In his homily, Bishop Loverde called it a day of rejoicing.

“We are filled with joy and thanksgiving,” he said, adding
that it’s not only St. Louis Parish that rejoices, but the
“entire Arlington church.”

The bishop spoke of the altar as the center of the church,
representing Christ. He called the altar a table of sacrifice
and a table of the paschal banquet.

After the homily, the litany of saints was chanted and the
rite of the dedication of the altar began. All worshippers
stood as Bishop Loverde deposited the relics of St. Louis,
St. Francis, St. Clare and Blessed Gabriella and her six
companions, who were Visitation nuns who martyred during the
Spanish Civil War, into the altar. He then anointed the top
of the altar with sacred chrism then lit incense in a censer
and walked around the altar.

After the ceremony, linens were brought out and positioned on
the altar. Candles were returned and lit. The Blessed
Sacrament was placed on the altar.

At the conclusion of Mass, Father Zuberbueler spoke to the
congregation, thanking his predecessors and all who worked to
get the renovation completed. He gave a special thank you to
Bishop Loverde for accepting his invitation to perform the
rite of dedication of the altar.

Father Zuberbueler added that it’s the parishioners’
dedication and hard work that made it happen.

The bishop also spoke before dismissal.

“There’s one person you did not mention in your thank you,”
he said, pointing to Father Zuberbueler. “And that’s you.”

The congregation broke out in applause.

Bishop Loverde went on to say that many bishops never get to
perform the rite of dedication during their tenure. He said
the Arlington Diocese was blessed with many. It’s a special
honor.

“How could I not say yes,” said the bishop about Father
Zuberbueler’s invitation to perform the dedication rite.

The rejoicing in the dedication was shared by the
parishioners who came to the ceremony.

Bette Jo and Carl Eifert have been St. Louis parishioners
since 1970 and this was the first rite of dedication that
they have seen.

“This is the third church renovation,” Bette Jo said. “It’s
so much more colorful.”

There was a reception after Mass, but people lingered in the
sanctuary admiring the beautiful changes that were made to
the Lord’s house.

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