Memorials

I finally received the information on the sanctuary furnishings for the renovated Chapel. The altar, the ambo (pulpit), the table/shelf for the Tabernacle, a lectern (a reading stand near the Priest's chairs), a credence table (a table to the left of the altar where everything needed in the Mass is placed), and an Offertory table (a moveable table in the center aisle for the placing of the hosts and wine before the Offertory) will all be available as memorials. For more information, please contact me (Fr. Herbert).
Actually, the table/shelf for the tabernacle was spoken for within an hour after the e-mail was sent this morning. All of the furnishing will form a set so that there is unity within the sanctuary. We are able to incorporate carvings from the original altar rail into the Altar, the Ambo and the table/shelf for the Blessed Sacrament.
There will also be two beautiful stained glass windows in the new sanctuary, both of which can be memorials. One is of St. Therese the patroness of the Chapel and the other is of the Good Shepherd. These are windows from the Church of the Assumption in Chelsea which is now closed.

Well, we finally have a date for beginning the work on the 50th Anniversary Renovation. SANTINI INC. from Arlington won the bidding process as the General Contractor. They will be working off-site all during Lent, preparing materials for the actual project, and then the work will begin immediately after Easter. So as a result, we will not have to move out of the Chapel until the Monday AFTER Easter. As soon as the contract is signed I will purchase the two stained glass windows that will be installed in the Sanctuary. One window is a figure of St. Therese, the patroness of the Chapel and the other is a figure of the Lord as the Good Shepherd. The windows are from the parish church of Our Lady of the Assumption (which is now closed) in Chelsea.
It's exciting to see so many months of preparation beginning to gel.

Chapel Renovations

Our 50th Anniversary Renovation project is moving along. We have chosen a Contractor, and I think the contract will be signed this week.
Soon I will be making some memorials available, because we are going to have all new sanctuary furniture: altar, ambo, lectern, credence table, offering table, and Blessed Sacrament table. I hope to have the value of these items available soon.
We are also going to have two stained glass windows (one of St. Therese and the other of the Lamb of God - they are from a church that closed in Chelsea). These I know are going to cost $5,000 each.
We had very good attendance at the Ash Wednesday Masses today. There must have been close to four hundred people at the noon Mass and almost three hundred at the 3:00 P.M. Mass.

I can't believe that the time has flown by so fast. The whole Christmas season got by me without one post.
Well we finally did get confirmation from the Mall administration that we will be able to re-locate to what had been Kitchen's Etc. during the renovation of our Chapel. It is a good big location with direct access from the parking lot. We are just delighted with this solution. Talking with the Architect, it now appears that we won't be starting the actual project until around the end of February.
The project is out for bids now, and the Contractors have to submit their bids by the 12th of February. I'm putting the whole bidding process under the care of Our Lady of Lourdes, since that is her feast day.
Yesterday we had a really nice experience at the 3:00 P.M. Mass. A volunteer came forward to serve as Lector and I was really impressed. Her name is Cristin and she is from Nigeria. Very active in her home parish of the Presentation in Nigeria, she was eager to have an active role in the Eucharist here during her visit to Peabody. I really admire that spirit.

Well, today we bid farewell to Leo McCarthy, O.Carm. as he was laid to rest in St. Mary's cemetery in Salem, MA. A beautiful Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at the Discalced Carmelite Nuns Monastery chapel in Danvers. Bishop Francis Irwin became sick at the last minute and I had to fill in as celebrant for the Liturgy. Concelebrants were, Frs. Felix, Mario, John Russell (homilist), Joe McGowan, Dick Foley, O.S.A., and Bill Wert. Corey Bassett-Tirrell and Eric Anderson provided the music for the liturgy. It was really quite beautiful. The simplicity of the Trappist style casket, together with the symbols of the Book of the Gospels, the cross and the chalice and stole which were placed on the casket after it was brought before the altar set a nice tone for the whole liturgy.
Fr. Leo's brothers, Stephen and Robert were present with his neices, nephews and various extended family members.
A former Carmelite, and class mate of Leo's from his Georgetown days, was also present, Jeremiah Malloney. Other former O.Carms. who were present were Mark Wenzel of Salem, John Leary, and Eugene Foley. They delighted in seeing Frs. John Russell and Joe McGowan.
For the burial itself, we couldn't have had better weather. It was a bright sunny day, with a slight breeze and not too cold at all. The Committal Service was presided over by Bill Wert.
A collation was served at the Priory after the Mass, catered by Mizioch-Witham of Peabody..

We're still waiting on word from the Mall as to a place where we can relocate during the Renovation. It's really frustrating. Time is getting short because we really hope to start the work right after the New Year.

We were saddened to hear of the death of Fr. Leo McCarthy, O.Carm. in Nokomis, Florida. He was a really good personal friend of mine and of all the community. Since he is originally from Danvers, he asked to be buried in our Carmelite plot in St. Mary's Cemetery in Peabody. His body won't arrive until just before Thanksgiving, so his brothers have requested that we wait until the Monday after Thanksgiving to hold his wake and Funeral Mass. So the plan is that he will be waked in our Priory at 4 Wheatland street in Peabody on Monday, Nov. 30th from 3:00 to 8:00 P.M. His funeral Mass will be held the next day at the Chapel of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns in Danvers followed by his interment in St. Mary's Cemetery.

Our Provincial Fr. Jack Welch, O.Carm. will celebrate the funeral Mass and the eulogist will be Rev. John Russell, O.Carm.

May he rest in peace.

We are asking for all the devotees of the Mall Chapel to pray this weekend. It is possible that we will know on Monday if there is a place within the Mall where we can relocate during the work that is to be done for the renovation of the Chapel. We have to know soon, because we hope to begin the work right after the New Year.
I have been getting good feedback from the e-mails that I try to send out each week to all those who have registered their e-mail address at the entrance to the Chapel. If you haven't yet done so, and would like to receive these e-mails, the registration sheets are still to be found at the entrance to the Chapel.
It's hard to believe, but the third Tuesday of the month is already upon us. This week will be the Men's Night of Prayer and Reflection on Tuesday at 7:00 P.M. We are calling upon all men to join us for this evening of prayer, adoration, repentance, and friendship.
I am reading a fascinating little book by a Carmelite Brother from the Netherlands. The title of the book is "Nothing Can stop God from Reaching Us --- A Dachau Diary by a Survivor" by Raphael Tijhuis, O.Carm. He tells a fascinating story of having experienced powerful moments of God's mercy in places of hatred, violence and death. He said that he attained a sense of God's presence that he never experienced before or after. The book is available in the Carmelite Gift Shop along with other recent arrivals of Carmelite History and Spirituality.