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Pictorial review
St. Pius Roman Catholic Church
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
May 10, 2008
My dear Parishioners:
Like many in our parish, I too am in the so-called "Golden Years" of life.
And so far, mine have been anything but golden. They've brought me health
problems, hip surgeries, dental surgery and, recently, a heart attack.
Somehow it seems that my gold has turned to rust! But that's not the whole
truth. In June of last year I was blessed in having the Golden Anniversary
of my Ordination to the Priesthood. This October is the Golden Anniversary
of the Archdiocese of Miami and I've been there since its beginning - one
of the "Founding Fathers"! Next year, on March 12, it'll be the Golden
Anniversary of our parish. That excites me and challenges me.
About a week ago I got a great report on my health from my doctor. I was
elated and left his office, praising God and thinking to myself: God's not
finished with me yet! In gratitude I asked the Lord: "What would You have
me to do?" Three days later it came to me - do something worthwhile for
the Lord by renewing and improving His house of prayer, our church, and
doing it for our Golden Anniversary.
I look at myself in the mirror and I see the deterioration that the past
50 years have wrought. I look at our church and I see much the same. It
needs a makeover, a rejuvenation, a renewal. High above our altar is the
motto of our patron saint, Pope Pius X: "To Renew All things In Christ."
Now it is time for us to RENEW - to renew all things in Christ and to
renew all things for Christ.
Much thought has gone into this and I have been blessed with the advice
and help of knowledgeable people in the fields of architecture,
construction and liturgical correctness. We're ready now and anxious to
start. We want to complete the project as soon as possible and with the
minimum of inconvenience to you, our faithful parishioners.
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Here is an overview of what we propose...
• The carpet in the sanctuary and throughout the church will be removed
and it will be replaced with a light-colored porcelain large tile, with a
diamond shaped deep emerald design down the center of each aisle.
• The gold drape in the sanctuary has hung for 50 years and is in very
poor condition. Parts of it are rotted and torn and badly in need of
replacement. The brown walls on either side of the drape are not made of
wood, as one might think. They are Formica, which is totally inappropriate
in the sanctuary. These walls will have a light-colored stone facing, and
this will be continued in the area now covered by the gold drape. This
will serve to accentuate our beautiful crucifix by contrasting it with the
light color of the stone facing.
• Instead of three steps, there will be only one step leading up to the
altar. The three seats behind the altar will be re-located on the
sanctuary level to the right side of the altar.
• The tabernacle will then be centered in the wall directly behind the
altar, thus giving emphasis to the Presence of Our Divine Lord in the
Eucharist as soon as one enters the church.
• There will be an updating on both our lighting and sound systems. The
organ/piano will be brought to ground level and there will be a slight
re-configuration of the choir area to place the members at a 45 degree
angle. This is by request of the choir.
• Those heavy wooden doors at the entrances to our church will be replaced
with solid, hurricane-proof glass doors with appropriate etching.
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Earlier I said that this is an
overview. It is presented to bring you up to date on what's planned and
about to happen at St. Pius X. Elsewhere in the Bulletin it is stated that
"change can sometimes be discomforting." Of that I am keenly aware. Some
will not welcome these changes. After all our church, as it is, has served
us well these past 50 years. We're used to it; we're comfortable with it;
what do we need with this? Well, whether we like it or not, change is very
much a part of life. We are not living in a vacuum. The passage of time
brings with it change. Only inanimate objects stay the same. They exist
but do not have life. The times are changing; our world is changing; and
even the Church has made vast changes in our own lifetime. They say that
there's nothing as comfortable as a pair of old shoes; but there comes a
time when even they have to be discarded and replaced with something new.
That's about the stage we have now reached at St. Pius X.
Some will like it - some will not. That I know. All I ask is that you bear
with me as we undertake this renewal in our church. As pastor for most of
my 50 years in the priesthood, I know that renovations are needed. It is
my responsibility as your Pastor to see that it is done. This decision has
been reached as a result of deep thought, much consultation and lots of
anguish and prayer. "What would You have me to do, Lord?" I believe that
this is the answer. Not everyone will agree. I'm opening myself up to
criticism. That I know, but, hopefully, it will not be vitriolic. There is
no place in the life of a Christian for that. Even the Lord didn't please
everyone, and look what they did to Him. The sole object of this major
undertaking is to beautify, upgrade, improve and renew our house of
prayer, and make it a more fitting setting for us to be at peace, be at
home and be as one, as we unite in giving glory and praise to God in the
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and in our private devotions.
Have you noticed that nowhere have I mentioned how we're going to pay for
this. I hope you'll be pleasantly surprised to learn that much of the
money is coming from the work and the far-sightedness of our fellow
parishioners, who faithfully and tirelessly have conducted three familiar
and often taken-for-granted programs in our parish, namely our Garage
Sale, our Memorial Brick Garden and our Weekly Bingo. May God bless and
reward them richly for their generous service to God and to the people of
this parish.
My apologies for the lengthiness of this letter. I wanted to give you as
complete a picture as I can of, what I truly believe, are the wonderful
exciting things that are ahead of us at St. Pius X. The hour is now late
as I write, and I am a one finger of one hand typist! Starting tomorrow
(Monday - May 12) Morning Masses will be celebrated in the Temporary
Chapel in the Rectory. That same morning, with the help of God, we begin
our program of upgrading and renewal in the church. I'll keep you
appraised of how it's coming along. You'll be able to see for yourself
each weekend because the work will only be done Mondays through Fridays. I
have absolute confidence that the Lord will provide. He has blessed me
with the health to do it. It is all for His honor and glory. Please
strengthen me with your prayers, your encouragement and your support - for
Heaven's sake and for Slevin's sake!
This unworthy servant of the Lord needs you. May God bless you for your
patience, your understanding and your help.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Rev. Patrick C. Slevin Pastor
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