Canonization becomes a family affair
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Dorothy K. LaMantia, Correspondent
The parish family of St. Theresa, Little Egg Harbor, had much to celebrate Oct. 18 as hundreds of parishioners gathered to commemorate the canonization of their patron saint’s parents, Louis and Zelie Martin, and to celebrate their parish’s 65th anniversary.
Father K. Michael Lambeth, pastor, and Father Arian Wharff, parochial vicar, concelebrated the 11:30 a.m. Mass, which began with the Knights of Columbus Color Guard leading the entrance procession. The family of John and Michelle Burns, which included daughters, Molly and Monica, and son, Nicholas, carried photographed portraits of Sts. Louis and Zelie and placed them in the sanctuary.
The readers carried a frame-enclosed piece of lace made by the hand of St. Zelie, a lacemaker by trade. Father Lambeth blessed then placed it on the altar as a second-class relic.
“Today we lift up families. We lift up the canonization of Louis and Zelie…parents of St. Theresa,” he said. “Even as we speak, Pope Francis is canonizing them in Rome for their gentle life, loving care, and outreach to the poor. They remind us of us here as a parish because we care for each other and care for the poor around us. We too are family under the protection of our patron St. Theresa, whom we celebrate today.”
At the end of Mass, members of the Knights of Columbus, carrying the portraits of the new saints and a statue of St. Theresa on a pallet adorned with mums and autumnal foliage, led the parish in a procession to bless the newly-completed prayer garden on the parish grounds.
In the church foyer the congregation filed past a wall-size drawing of a family tree, a project of the children in the religious education program in preparation for the celebration.
Recordings of hymns playing from loudspeakers and the scent of incense wafting through the air instilled a sense of the sacred as the procession circled the buildings of their church home and headed towards the garden where Father Mick blessed each of the 14 wooden Stations of the Cross.
The end of the procession signaled the beginning of the annual parish picnic, where parish volunteers grilled burgers and hot dogs and served side dishes to their fellow parishioners, a deejay played music, and children played games and had their faces painted.
“Normally we have the picnic the weekend closest to the feast of St. Theresa on October 1,” explained Father Mick. “When we learned of the canonization, we decided to move this year’s picnic.”
Glancing at the number of parishioners enjoying the sunny day in spite of wind chill, he added, “Look at this—it’s a big family picnic. This exemplifies who we are as family.”
Parishioners echoed those words as they discussed the day’s events—and celebrated their church.
Donna Ann Powers, coordinator of religious education, said, “This canonization confirms the world meeting of families. We taught our students about St. Theresa and her family and we talked about family. When our students did their family tree, we were amazed how they showed their families doing things together or talked about God. It speaks volumes and shows their parents as first catechists. We have such dedicated families.”
Youth group member Brianna Ford said, “This is a great parish. All the ministries here support each other. The Knights of Columbus prepared breakfast when the youth group did the mission. The youth group helps with Vacation Bible School.”
Her friend Monica Burns agreed, “Every age group works with other age groups. We all want each other to stay in the church, so we work together. That’s our secret.”
Sue Eggert, whose sister owns the lace made by St. Zelie, reflected on the parish’s namesake. “I always loved St. Theresa. I read her diary, and she writes with such beautiful simplicity that is easy to understand. Her Little Way is something we all can do.”
The canonization of Louis and Zelie Martin by Pope Francis was scheduled to coincide with the Synod of Bishops on the Family, which opened in Rome Oct. 4. They are the first married couple to be canonized together.
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By Dorothy K. LaMantia, Correspondent
The parish family of St. Theresa, Little Egg Harbor, had much to celebrate Oct. 18 as hundreds of parishioners gathered to commemorate the canonization of their patron saint’s parents, Louis and Zelie Martin, and to celebrate their parish’s 65th anniversary.
Father K. Michael Lambeth, pastor, and Father Arian Wharff, parochial vicar, concelebrated the 11:30 a.m. Mass, which began with the Knights of Columbus Color Guard leading the entrance procession. The family of John and Michelle Burns, which included daughters, Molly and Monica, and son, Nicholas, carried photographed portraits of Sts. Louis and Zelie and placed them in the sanctuary.
The readers carried a frame-enclosed piece of lace made by the hand of St. Zelie, a lacemaker by trade. Father Lambeth blessed then placed it on the altar as a second-class relic.
“Today we lift up families. We lift up the canonization of Louis and Zelie…parents of St. Theresa,” he said. “Even as we speak, Pope Francis is canonizing them in Rome for their gentle life, loving care, and outreach to the poor. They remind us of us here as a parish because we care for each other and care for the poor around us. We too are family under the protection of our patron St. Theresa, whom we celebrate today.”
At the end of Mass, members of the Knights of Columbus, carrying the portraits of the new saints and a statue of St. Theresa on a pallet adorned with mums and autumnal foliage, led the parish in a procession to bless the newly-completed prayer garden on the parish grounds.
In the church foyer the congregation filed past a wall-size drawing of a family tree, a project of the children in the religious education program in preparation for the celebration.
Recordings of hymns playing from loudspeakers and the scent of incense wafting through the air instilled a sense of the sacred as the procession circled the buildings of their church home and headed towards the garden where Father Mick blessed each of the 14 wooden Stations of the Cross.
The end of the procession signaled the beginning of the annual parish picnic, where parish volunteers grilled burgers and hot dogs and served side dishes to their fellow parishioners, a deejay played music, and children played games and had their faces painted.
“Normally we have the picnic the weekend closest to the feast of St. Theresa on October 1,” explained Father Mick. “When we learned of the canonization, we decided to move this year’s picnic.”
Glancing at the number of parishioners enjoying the sunny day in spite of wind chill, he added, “Look at this—it’s a big family picnic. This exemplifies who we are as family.”
Parishioners echoed those words as they discussed the day’s events—and celebrated their church.
Donna Ann Powers, coordinator of religious education, said, “This canonization confirms the world meeting of families. We taught our students about St. Theresa and her family and we talked about family. When our students did their family tree, we were amazed how they showed their families doing things together or talked about God. It speaks volumes and shows their parents as first catechists. We have such dedicated families.”
Youth group member Brianna Ford said, “This is a great parish. All the ministries here support each other. The Knights of Columbus prepared breakfast when the youth group did the mission. The youth group helps with Vacation Bible School.”
Her friend Monica Burns agreed, “Every age group works with other age groups. We all want each other to stay in the church, so we work together. That’s our secret.”
Sue Eggert, whose sister owns the lace made by St. Zelie, reflected on the parish’s namesake. “I always loved St. Theresa. I read her diary, and she writes with such beautiful simplicity that is easy to understand. Her Little Way is something we all can do.”
The canonization of Louis and Zelie Martin by Pope Francis was scheduled to coincide with the Synod of Bishops on the Family, which opened in Rome Oct. 4. They are the first married couple to be canonized together.
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