New (Catholic) church ready for 3,000-member parish in West Virginia

Catholic News Agency ^ | July 25, 2006

[NYer]

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va., Jul. 25, 2006 (CNA) - Charles Town, West Virginia, has a new city landmark — St. James Catholic Church — believed to be the largest Catholic church in the state.

Bishop Michael Bransfield of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston will preside at the dedication mass for the new church this evening.

About two years ago, parishioners decided it was high time their growing congregation, currently numbering 3,400, had a new home. The old church seats only 276 people and seven services had to be held on the weekends to accommodate everyone, reported the Charles Town Herald. The parish also has a growing Hispanic population.

The parish had bought 22 acres of land for a future church site in 1999, but plans for the new church were only concretized two years ago.

Parishioners held fundraisers, raising more than $3 million. This was enough to build the church. The complex is being completed in phases. The rectory and the parish school are next on the horizon. They will require about another $14.4 million combined.

Dedication ceremonies for the new church began Sunday. It included a nearly two-mile procession, from the old church to the new one, carrying altar items, statues and other sacred objects.

The new church is decorated with 100 stained-glass windows – including 13 stained-glass windows transferred from the old church — an altar made of Italian Botticino marble, and numerous statues carved by craftsmen in Peru. It also includes a digital organ with four keyboards.

The church is home to 85 ministries, including prayer groups, the Knights of Columbus and ministry to the sick. The old church will still be kept for various functions.

[STARWISE]

Sounds wonderful ping!

[ArrogantBustard]

I've driven by their new property ... quite impressive from the road. Haven't been inside. This is in WEST Virginia, BTW.

[NYer]

CHARLES TOWN — Community members will soon have the chance to experience what is described as one of the most solemn of liturgical services — the rite for the dedication of a church and an altar.

The procession leading parishioners from the former site of the Roman Catholic Parish of St. James the Greater to the new church is the first step in the dedication of the facility, which will hold four times the number of worshippers as the former home.

The new church will seat about a thousand people, whereas the old parish sat only between 250 and 300 people.

That extra room was a necessity, as the influx of residents from Northern Virginia and Washington has made St. James one of the fastest-growing parishes locally.

“There’s a real need for increased capacity to hold Mass for this number of individuals,” said John Sherwood, a volunteer within the church.

The new facility is believed to be the largest Catholic church in the state of West Virginia, he said. The old church is located in downtown Charles Town at 311 S. George St. and the new church is along W.Va. 9 just off the U.S. 340 bypass.

On Sunday evening, after the 6 p.m. Mass at the old St. James, a 1.8-mile procession, involving prayers, chants, the Knights of Columbus and the carrying of the Eucharist under a large processional canopy, will be completed between the sites of the old and new churches.

“It’s kind of a tradition within Catholic churches,” Sherwood said.

Those participating in the walk, which is expected to take between 60 and 90 minutes, will have a police escort, as well as the support of the neighboring Methodist church.

Various items, such as statues, relics from the altar and the Eucharist will be transferred to the new church during the procession by the parish priests, deacons and parishioners.

Anyone wishing to carry a piece of the church’s belongings during what is described as “truly one of the most moving parts of the dedication,” will be able to — whether that piece is a statue or a hymnal, Sherwood said.

Those items will be placed in a temporary room within the new church until the dedication Mass takes place on Tuesday evening.

The Mass, which begins at 7 p.m., will be celebrated by the Most Rev. Michael Bransfield, Bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, and assisted by the Rev. Brian Owens, pastor, and other visiting priests.

The dedication Mass — when the parishioners will enter and formally accept the church from the contractor — will likely last between one-and-a-half and two hours, Sherwood said, and will contain musical selections of three choirs and some instrumental groups.

“The church is not completely finished, but it’s far enough along that we can use it,” he said. “I would hope that by the fall most of the finishing touches will be done.”

Work on the new facility has gone on for more than a year, during which time Mass services at St. James have been held regularly at 5 p.m. on Saturdays, and at 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Sundays.

“It’s quite a heavy schedule,” Sherwood said.

But, the church is about more than just Sunday Mass, he added.

“It’s the people that make up the church.”

Around 80 ministries complete different tasks within the parish, such as teaching youth, counseling those interested in becoming Catholic and taking meals to fellow church members in times of need.

“This will make it a much better area for a lot of these (ministries) to conduct their things,” Sherwood said.

[Nihil Obstat]

looks good - more pics here: http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=143202&format=html

Eucharistic procession sounds fantastic.

[netmilsmom]

Is that a risen Christ above the altar!?!?

[netmilsmom]

No, I looked at the closer picture and it's a cruxifix!!!!

Whew!

I love, that which easily could be, a high altar behind the freestanding one.

[netmilsmom]

Oh geez
Make that crucifix

[MarineBrat]

Anyone wishing to carry a piece of the church’s belongings during what is described as “truly one of the most moving parts of the dedication,” will be able to — whether that piece is a statue or a hymnal, Sherwood said.

I wish I could have participated in that. It sounds beautiful!

[Theophane]

On Amy Welborn's blog, the correspondents said the pastor is a Baptist convert. As a former Evangelical myself, I think I know his feeling about the statues--the more the merrier. Also over there at Open Book, others reported on a new church at Our Lady of Hope parish, in Northern Virginia, with photos that are quite edifying as well. It also has a high altar with Tabernacle, positioned behind the low altar.

And perhaps even enough space in front of the said low altar for a priest ad orientem, no? Regrettably the same cannot be said for the new dowtown chapel here in Houston.

[Heartofsong83]

Looks beautiful in the inside! Does it maintain a cathedral look on the outside?

[Between the Lines]

[Pyro7480]

Now, if they built ALL modern churches like that.

[Miss Marple]

Oh, what a beautiful church! Thanks for posting the picture of the outside!

[Carolina]

Actually, the classical movement is gaining quite a bit of speed. See Duncan Stroik's work and the influence he has with the next generation of students. Prof. Stroik teaches at Notre Dame. Here's his website. Take a look at his current projects. One of his students' designs was a finalist for the Oakland cathedral. Too bad they chose the modern monstrosity instead.

Here's a sample of his work. This is what the new chapel at St. Thomas Aquinas College (California) will look like:

Here's the Shrine to Our Lady of Guadelupe under construction.

Here's a gallery of Duncan's student's work. This should give you plenty of hope for the future.

[k omalley]

Wow! A Catholic Church that actually looks like a Catholic Church. How radical!

[xxyyxx]

We have a fairly new church nearby....no cross on top of the steeple...(I guess they are ashamed of the death of Christ) ..the inside looks like a place in desparate need of some hoops and tennis shoes. It has about as much appeal as a Taco Bell.

[Aquinasfan]

A traditional church. Thank God!

[Pyro7480]

This is what the new chapel at St. Thomas Aquinas College (California) will look like

I've been excited about that design since I first saw that a while back. According to a colleague of mine who went to school there, construction has started on the chapel.

[NYer]

As a former Evangelical myself, I think I know his feeling about the statues--the more the merrier.

That's edifying but surprising. How does an Evangelical jump the 'catholic idolatry' divide? And do those statues include any of the Blessed Mother?