By Megan Erbacher
The Message editor
During Mass on Sept. 23, Bishop Joseph M. Siegel dedicated the altar and blessed the new chapel, now officially the Oratory of St. Thomas Aquinas, in the former convent of Sacred Heart Church in Evansville.
During his homily, Bishop Siegel commented how awesome the place was, as it is none other than the house of God, a gateway to heaven. He said the oratory is indeed to be holy, and through worship offered by our seminarians in this new space, the Lord will guide them in their priestly formation and ultimately on their pilgrim way to heaven.
Bishop Siegel said the altar is a symbol of Christ in our midst and will serve as the heart and soul of the chapel and house. On Sept. 23, he said it was solemnly consecrated as a place for which holy Mass will be offered.
Father Tyler Tenbarge, diocesan director of vocations, and Father Christopher Droste, pastor of St. Boniface Parish in Evansville, concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Siegel.
First-year diocesan Seminarians Allen Lasher, Jake Evitts, Evan Sexton, Eli Steckler and Brett Wilkey assisted and served the Mass. Matt Miller, director of the Office of Worship, served as Master of Ceremonies. Jeremy Goebel, diocesan director of youth and young adult ministry, served as cantor.
During the Introductory Rites, Bishop Siegel sprinkled holy water on the altar, the walls of the chapel and on those in attendance. Bishop Siegel said during his homily that just as we were washed clean from sin and blessed with holy water at our baptisms, so is the altar, the walls of the chapel and all present.
Seminarian Allen Lasher served as lector.
Father Droste proclaimed the Gospel.
Following the profession of faith, all prayed the Litany of the Saints. Bishop Siegel then placed a relic of St. Thomas Aquinas into the base of the altar, signifying “that the sacrifice of the members has drawn its origin from the Sacrifice of the Head.”
Bishop Siegel then dedicated the altar and anointed the mensa (altar top) by pouring sacred Chrism on the middle of the altar and each of its four corners. Burning incense was placed on the altar, and Bishop Siegel incensed the altar. The altar was then dressed and prepared for the remainder of Mass.
During the altar dedication, Ron and Joanie Pohl removed the sacred Chrism after Bishop Siegel’s blessing. Ron Pohl, a member of Good Shepherd Parish in Evansville, made the altar and ambo by hand.
The altar was dressed by seminarians Evan Sexton and Jake Evitts.
Candles were then placed on the altar, as well as a flower bouquet at the base of the altar.
The tabernacle door remained open, and the red candle wasn’t lit, until after Holy Communion.
It is around the altar, Bishop Siegel said during his homily, that we become most aware of who we are as Catholics, as we celebrate the Eucharist, the source and summit of our faith.
Bishop Siegel offered thanks to the many donors and faithful and all who donated their time and talents to renovate the former convent. He especially noted the many Sisters of Providence who lived in the convent and taught at Sacred Heart School. He said he knows these holy women will intercede for all who live, study and serve at the House of Formation.
Five Diocesan first-year seminarians and Father Tenbarge moved into the new House of Formation on Sept. 13. Father Tenbarge serves as diocesan director of vocations, diocesan director of the propaedeutic program, and chaplain and director of the Father Deydier House of Discernment.
“It is a wonderful home, and we have been grateful for the support that made it possible,” Father Tenbarge said. “The chapel itself remained unfinished, though, and so we had been trekking back to the House of Discernment to pray with the four residents living there two or three times every day. With (the) altar dedication, we (now) have the Blessed Sacrament in our space and are able to have Adoration, Masses and other prayer times together here. With the Lord’s arrival, we will finally be fully at home in this new space.”
“Bishop Siegel was gracious to place a relic of St. Thomas in the altar during the Mass,” Father Tenbarge continued. “St. Thomas Aquinas is a fitting patron for us since his writings are still studied today by seminarians.”