October 18, 2016

Materials from former parishes become part of new altar in Easthampton

REGIONAL
By Stephen Kiltonic

(Photos by Stephen Kiltonic)

EASTHAMPTON – On Oct. 16, parishioners of Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Easthampton witnessed a rare occasion in the Springfield Diocese: the consecration of a new altar. 

Concelebrating the 11 a.m. Mass and presiding over the dedication was Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski; Father Douglas McGonagle, pastor of Our Lady of the Valley Parish; Father John Gawienowski, parochial vicar of Our Lady of the Valley Parish; and Father Piotr Pawlus, associate director of the Newman Catholic Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a former parochial vicar at Our Lady of the Valley Parish.

The idea for a new altar came shortly after Father McGonagle became pastor in 2010 when Our Lady of the Valley was created from the merger of three Easthampton parishes: Sacred Heart, Immaculate Conception and Notre Dame du Bon Conseil. 

Father McGonagle and Father Pawlus agreed that some physical changes needed to occur at the parish. First, the high altar was modified and the tabernacle moved to the center of the sanctuary. Both priests also felt the existing 1990s square altar needed to be replaced so it would be more suitable for concelebrating. After a church architect proposed that a rectangular, wooden altar might be the best alternative, Father McGonagle had a brainstorm.

“As soon as the architect suggested that we build an altar and make it all wood, it suddenly hit me. We could create an altar from materials from the three founding parishes that would then unite into Our Lady of the Valley,” said Father McGonagle. “There is still a lot of grieving over the loss of the old parishes, the old communities, so I hoped that this would help bring people together and also show that Our Lady of the Valley is a very new parish but that it has a very long history.”

The former Immaculate Conception Parish, where Our Lady of the Valley parishioners now worship, was established in 1871.
The core of the new altar is the freestanding altar from Sacred Heart Church, which itself was fabricated from their old oak Communion rails. The top, base and pillars of the altar are made from Notre Dame’s American chestnut pews. The marble altar stone, containing the relic of an unknown saint, which is inlaid into the top of the altar, is from the high altar of Immaculate Conception and may be the oldest, original Catholic altar stone in Easthampton.

Father McGonagle, who has an engineering background, came up with the original 3D-design concept of the altar. Bill Hewitt, a long-time furniture maker in town, was given the task of crafting all the various materials from the three former parishes. After a few design modifications, it took Hewitt about a month to complete the altar in his Cottage Street studio.

According to Hewitt, the project posed some challenges. “The material was bowed so it was a little tough to get it straightened up and some of the material, I think, had been used a few times so I would run into hardware that was way inside the wood for no apparent reason,” he said. “There were a couple of times I thought I had everything out of it and then bang, you hit another nail. But, once we got all the hardware out and got things flattened, this material worked quite nicely.”

Financing for the altar came from Louise Cooper, a parishioner of Our Lady of the Valley. “This past year has brought so many blessings my way and in thanksgiving for all these blessings, I wanted to do something special for my parish and also in memory of my late husband, Edward J. Cooper Sr.,” said Cooper, who donated approximately $5,000 toward the project.

This was the first time Bishop Rozanski dedicated an altar in the Springfield Diocese. The ritual consisted of placing the altar stone into the altar’s top or mensa. After saying a prayer of dedication, Bishop Rozanski then consecrated the altar by smearing holy chrism oil on top of the altar as well as burning incense. The altar cloth was carried down the center aisle by members of the first Communion class and placed on the altar. Candles and flowers were placed around the altar, which completed the dedication.

“The consecration of the altar with the sacred chrism and then burning the incense – the sign that the sacrifice goes up to God all the way back to the Hebrew scriptures. So, it’s a very ancient rite of the church that really has its roots way back in our Jewish heritage. That’s why it’s such a fascinating rite to watch and a beautiful rite to participate in for everybody,” said
Bishop Rozanski.

The altar was initially installed in June after the old square one was taken apart. “When the altar was first installed, I think we got the best compliments. More people would come in and say. ‘Oh, my Lord! It looks like it’s always been there,” said Father McGonagle. Posters were also put up describing the altar components from the three parishes. “I believe people really appreciate that touch,” added Father McGonagle.

After the Mass, a luncheon reception was held in the church basement hall for all parishioners.