Here are some photos of our newly renovated Mall Chapel.

Ron Nussle took this photo of the Chapel this past week so that we will have before and after renovation photos. This photo is taken from right where the priest stands at the altar.

Chapel Memorials

There has been quite a bit of interest in memorials for the renovated Chapel. The new altar of sacrifice, the altar/shelf for the tabernacle, the two stained glass windows and a pew have been donated so far, The Ambo (pulpit) ($4,000), the credence table ($3,000), the Offertory table ($2,000), the lectern ($2,500), two brass altar candlesticks ($250), the brass Pascal Candle holder ($500), and the new Thurible (Incensor) and Incense Boat ($500) and individual pews ($1,000) are still available. The sanctuary furniture will be decorated with carvings that were taken from the old altar rail when it was removed.

Chapel Renovation

Well, unfortunately we have run into a snag with the renovation of our Chapel. The place where we were going to move to during the renovation is no longer available to us. So right now it looks as though we will just have just close down the Chapel for two months. I hate to do it, but I don't see any option right now. We are looking into one place, but it is not too hopeful. Say a prayer. In fact, say a lot of them. We have to get St. Therese working for us so that she finds a temporary home for her Chapel

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.