A Church Transformed, Part II

Well, let me begin as I did once before when I posted a blog about Easter. This post is not about the transformation of the Church but rather about the transformation of a single church, Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary/St. Stephen’s Church to be precise.

Each year on the last Sunday of Advent, right after the last Mass of the day, all are invited to help clean and decorate the church for Christmas. And each year, I say “I am so tired and I still have presents to buy and wrapping to do and baking to start.” I think maybe I should forego the decorating but I find that giving a couple of hours to this task is one of the highlights of the holiday season.

When I arrived on Sunday, I was surprised to see the biggest group ever. Under the direction of the man with the vision, John Heyer, Jr., all were busy with various tasks: dusting, ironing, hoisting banners, wreaths and roping, stringing lights on 57 trees, sweeping pine needles, and arranging dozens and dozens of poinsettias. This year there was also a generous spread of sandwiches courtesy of D’Amico’s, pizza from the House of Pizza and Calzone, and some Dunkin Donuts, too. Christmas music was playing and the atmosphere was just perfect.

I usually do a lot of dusting during these decorating parties but yesterday I worked on lighting the trees on the altar instead. Working with Christmas tree lights at home usually results in me almost losing my mind. Invariably after I test them all and get them on the tree, half of a strand doesn’t light or the plug doesn’t wind up on the bottom. Doing the same job in the midst of a beautiful, holy place is a lot less stressful. Especially when you are surrounded by hardworking, dedicated fellow parishioners (and guests). This is a labor of love for our church and for each other. No complaints were uttered as my dearest friend, Diane and my hubby crouched under trees to wrap tree skirts around the bases. For some reason, whatever we did went from being a chore to being a pleasure.

Outside on the steeple hangs the Christmas star and to the right of the stairs, the creche is in place, waiting for Baby Jesus (hopefully nobody will even think about stealing him this year)!! But it is the inside of the church that is breathtaking! Wreaths and evergreen roping hang from every pillar and from the choir loft. Christmas trees are clustered on the altar and line the side aisles. The candles of the Advent wreath have been changed from pink and purple to all white. And the altar cloths are crimson and gold. The twinkling blue lights of the nativity and the gold and white lights on all those trees and the cascades of poinsettias, even before it was all finished, almost brought tears to my eyes. The result is truly a sight to behold.

You may wonder how our parish can afford such grand decorations. Well, each year, the parishioners donate all the money used to purchase the real trees, wreaths, and poinsettias either in memory of loved ones or in gratitude for blessings received. The indoor and outdoor nativity scenes have also been donated in memory of deceased family members.

I encourage you to stop into SHSS Church this Christmas season. All are welcome: Christians and non-Christians, believers and non-believers alike. With all the hustle and bustle of the season and the particular sorrow of our city over the last couple of days, It might be just what you need to put yourself into a proper, peaceful holiday spirit.

Sacred Hearts/St. Stephen Church is located on the corner of Summit & Hicks Streets. The Christmas Mass schedule is: Family Mass at 4:30 pm and Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and 11:00 Mass on Christmas Day.