There are many beautiful things about the dedication of a new Catholic church, but maybe the best part is waiting at the front door. Catholic Extension Society supported the construction of the new St. Peter Claver parish in the Diocese of Lexington, which threw wide open its doors on April 16 for the diverse community of parishioners who have waited close to 20 years for their new worship space. It was like the “big reveal” moment on those home makeover shows, but it’s even more exciting and meaningful.
That was especially true for 94-year-old Clementine Thompson.
When she was a young girl, she was not welcome at her local Catholic parish because she was African American. Now, as the parish’s favorite elder, she proudly headed up the procession line, which waited at the front door.
Also there was David Young who has been a parishioner since 1978 and is Grand Knight of the Knights of Peter Claver. He wanted to cry for joy at this culmination of 20 years of blood, sweat, tears, planning, funding and building the church. Being a dignified Grand Knight, he allowed himself only a modest sniffle.
Many young people were also lined up at the door.
Two-year-old Ellie was there with her mom and dad. She eyed the beautiful baptismal pool as a possible setting for a future adventure.
Rio was there with her mom, Kimathi. She would be one of the first junior high students to be confirmed in the new church later that month. She was wide-eyed with expectation, caught up in the energy she had only before experienced at pep rallies.
Engaged couple Brennan and Ben were there.
Their wedding was right around the corner, and Brennan was thankful the main aisle in the new church was so long. Their 10 bridesmaids and 10 groomsmen would fit just fine.
Father Norman Fischer, the ebullient and unstoppable pastor of St. Peter Claver waited at the front door along with Bishop John Stowe, O.F.M. Conv., the visionary leader of the Diocese of Lexington. Father Fischer opened the door of the church, saying,
Enter the gates of the Lord with thanksgiving, His courts with songs of praise!”
The wait was over.
Entering with songs of praise
It has been said that “Catholic” means “here comes everyone.” In other words, we are a universal Church, where all are welcome. The St. Peter Claver procession was profoundly, proudly and perfectly Catholic.
Led by the cross, the people of God entered, blessing the main aisle with their footsteps.
There were more than 500 parishioners, many of whom had absolutely no success holding back their tears. They were beautiful: Korean, Filipino, Congolese, Caucasian and African American.
Tears mixed with the water from the stunning baptismal font as parishioners blessed themselves. It was a standing-room-only crowd. St. Peter Claver is built for 400, but don’t suggest to Father Fischer that he build a bigger church. Everyone fit just fine. The church got more beautiful as each aisle filled in.
The people were accompanied by altar servers, Anuarite dancers, the yellow-sashed Knights and Ladies of Peter Claver, two blue-robed choirs more than 50 strong, lectors, ushers, candle bearers, five drummers and five concelebrants (making considerably less noise than the drummers). They rolled in like a wave.
How loved are the churches that hold us
The dedication of a Roman Catholic church is a thing of beauty. It is a baptism of a building, a promissory note to the future, a love note to the generations passed. It is the best of us, a thoughtful, moving ritual that perfectly expresses how loved are the churches that hold us.
Bishop Stowe preached that the church already felt like home. It was the work of the assembly’s hands and a feast for the eyes. He said that the living presence of Jesus was longing to burst out, creating a new heaven and a new earth.
“And it starts right here, right now,” he said.
At Fourth and Jefferson streets where the Catholic Church has been present for more than a century, a new day was dawning that would be a source of new life for the neighborhood.
Then came the anointing. The four walls were anointed with holy chrism, signifying that the new church building is given over entirely and perpetually to Christian worship. St. Peter Claver is the New Jerusalem come to Kentucky.
The sign of peace was holy chaos. It was clear that the parishioners were crazy about each other. It was the kingdom come. Then everyone, with reverent excitement, made their first holy Communion in the new church. They were second graders again.
Bishop Stowe pronounced a final blessing.
Then the parishioners were ready to do what he suggested in his homily, namely that from this consecrated place, the assembly would now “burst out as the living presence of Jesus, creating a new heaven and a new earth.”
Father Fischer described the new St. Peter Claver as the “little church with a big heart that just got bigger.” Catholic Extension Society has been honored to help.
Watch him describe the exciting future that awaits at the new St. Peter Claver:
