‘A home for all’
BELMONT — The excitement was palpable last Sunday, as nearly 1,200 people gathered outside the new 13,430-square-foot Queen of the Apostles Church, awaiting the dedication ceremony officiated by Bishop Peter Jugis.
Processing through a crowd of parishioners, Bishop Jugis made his way to the front entrance of the new church, featuring six front doors that each stand over eight feet tall and weigh 225 pounds.
Made of rare northern Appalachian longleaf pine, the doors were crafted from the floorboards of Chronicle Mill on Catawba Street in Belmont, which is owned by Queen of the Apostles parishioners John and Jennifer Church.
At the front doors of the church, Bishop Jugis was presented the church drawings and the keys to the front doors. He passed the keys to longtime pastor Father Francis Cancro, who proceeded to unlock the doors so that all could enter for the start of the dedication of their new church.
The look of joy on on the faces of the hundreds of people streaming into the church to find a seat was unmistakable. Men and women, young and old – all gazed around their new church in wonder as they were finally able to come in to worship in their new church.
The 750-seat church was filled to capacity, with many people standing along the side walls, in the back of the church and 200 parishioners even sitting or standing in the gathering area or narthex during the two-hour liturgy.
The parish’s choir and music ministry led by Chrissy Glisson, director of music and liturgy, provided inspired music throughout the ceremony and Mass.
Bishop Jugis and Deacons William “Chip” Wilson and John “Zeke” Panzica circulated throughout the church building during the sprinkling rite, showering everyone with holy water to serve as a sign of repentance and as a remembrance of their baptism. The rite is also used to purify the walls of the church and the altar.
Prior to the Liturgy of the Word, the two readers and the psalmist presented the Lectionary to Bishop Jugis, who raised it high for everyone to see prior to the Word of God being proclaimed in the church for the first time.
“It is with a tremendous sense of gratitude that we come to dedicate this sacred building to the worship of God this day under the patronage of Our Blessed Mother, Mary Queen of the Apostles,” Bishop Jugis said during his homily.
“Recognition is also due to your beloved pastor Father Cancro and all of the parishioners of Queen of the Apostles Parish for the tremendous gift that you are making this day to Almighty God – the gift of the church where He will be worshiped and you will be sanctified, you will be made holy,” he said.
Bishop Jugis pointed out the beautiful interplay in the prayers of the dedication Mass between two temples – the material temple made of tangible materials, and the spiritual temple that consists of the people who are the “temple of the living stones” in which the Holy Spirit dwells.
“This material temple is at the service of the spiritual temple which you all are,” he explained. “Because here in this building the spiritual temple which you are, the building of spiritual stones in which the Holy Spirit is dwelling, will continue to grow and be made stronger as a holy temple unto God. Here in this place, holiness will be celebrated as you grow in holiness.”
Bishop Jugis also expressed that the Belmont parish has an evangelical mission.
“This parish is on mission to take the love of Christ which you celebrate here at this altar – Jesus Christ offering as a sign of His love, His very life for you and giving you His Body and Blood – beyond the confines of this physical building out into the world.” This effort “does not stop at the walls of this church.”
The dedication of the new Queen of the Apostles Church included the deposition of the relics of three saints – St. Francis of Assisi, St. John Neumann and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton – just below the altar.
The prayer of dedication, the anointing of the altar and walls of the church, the incensing of the altar and the church and the dressing of the altar brought home the reality of all the parish had worked for more than 15 years. Dozens of parishioners of all ages and ethnicities assisted during this portion of the ceremony.
A poignant moment in the transformation of the church came when the candles were lit and all the lights in the church were illuminated. The whole congregation gasped audibly at the beauty of the new church lit up in splendor.
At the conclusion of Mass, Father Cancro was met with a prolonged standing ovation for his longtime service to the Church and his persistence in seeing the building project through to completion.
“We give thanks to Almighty God for what has been accomplished over 15 years in this parish community – that brought us from community meetings before I ever came to this place and continued through master planning through a lot of fundraising – that has brought us finally to this day where we celebrate our presence in this place as God’s temple being housed here to go in mission into the world,” Father Cancro said.
Saying “thanks” in many languages, Father Cancro concluded, “I say thank you for everything that has brought us to this day.”
Fourteen priests of the diocese, including former pastors of the Belmont parish, as well as Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari and monks of Belmont Abbey, joined Bishop Jugis in concelebrating the dedication Mass.
The $4.15 million church has a new entrance off Franklin Street as well as additional parking that will make the church more accessible for handicapped parishioners. It offers new restrooms, a nursery, a space for parents with young children, a spacious narthex, a parlor for families and ministers attending weddings and funerals, a sacristy, and a dedicated space for the sacrament of reconciliation.
WKWW Architects of Charlotte, which specializes in church architecture design, served as architect. Southside Constructors served as general contractor.
Deacon Panzica shared with the Catholic News Herald that he and his wife have been a part of Queen of the Apostles Parish for over three years. “And even in that short time, we’ve seen it grow in both size and commitment to proclaiming the Gospel through our actions,” he said.
“While we’ve been members of other engaged parishes over the years, Queen of the Apostles is by far the most vibrant and loving parish we’ve ever experienced. And to be able to worship together in this new, beautiful space is just an incredible blessing for which we are so grateful,” he said.
Glisson expressed that she is “so happy to finally have our new church which truly represents a home for all. The saying my grandmother always told me as a child was, ‘Many hands make light work.’ (It) is so true because it took our entire community pulling together to make our new church a reality.
“We are finally able to be in the same space to worship together as a family. We are a very blessed community!”
— SueAnn Howell, Catholic News Herald
