Shining Brightly
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Lois Rogers | Correspondent
The unofficial start of summer began on a joyful note along the ocean in Manasquan as Our Lady, Star of the Sea Chapel opened its doors once again for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
To see photo gallery on this story, click here.
The building, which stands just about a block away from the Atlantic Ocean and is part of St. Denis Parish there, had taken a fierce battering from the ocean’s roiling waters during Superstorm Sandy nearly 18 months earlier.
And it was clear from the crowd assembled on May 25, the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, that re-dedication of the beloved ocean-side house of prayer, originally built for summer visitors under the direction of former pastor Msgr. James A. Harding, was just what they’d hoped for all these months. In fact, hope was one of the keys of the homily offered by Father Edward H. Blanchett, pastor, at the Mass. After blessing the restored chapel with holy water, Father Blanchett began by noting that some of the parishioners – many of whom also suffered the effects of the storm – had been counting the actual number of days – 578 – and weeks – 82 – until the chapel reopened.
“Welcome back and welcome home,” he told them as he acknowledged the “many who are still struggling with the effects from the storm.”
He encouraged those present to look with hope at the recovery of the chapel as well as the development going on around the borough which indicate that healing is underway. For so long, he said, “it had seemed so difficult to find hope. But we come together today to give witness to hope and to thank God and the work of our hands,” for what has been accomplished.
“We look forward in faith,” he said, having overcome the ravages brought about by the force of nature.”
A small plaque placed several feet up on the wall by the entry way marks the waterline gan front left by Sandy.
Families returning for worship for the first since the storm seemed energized by the fact that the chapel was open once again.
It was, they said, a sign of hope and recovery for people who, in many cases, had lost much themselves. “It’s a good nice feeling, we’re very excited about it,” said Robert Shaloub whose four-year-old son, Robert, rode happily on Shaloub’s shoulders as he exited the chapel with wife, Gina.
“It’s a sign of things getting better,” said Michael Long, who attended the Mass with his wife Karen and their children.
“This was the place we regularly came to Mass” in the summer, said Long, a member of the parish for 25 years. “You would meet the same people every week. There was a nice family feeling about it.”
Long noted that St. Denis Church and St. Denis School had both been severely damaged by the storm.
Both were repaired through very hard work, he said.
Long said it was a good feeling to see “the last piece” in place and open.
The chapel took a direct hit from the ocean surge, destroying the interior furnishings, necessitating the replacement of the floors, the inside walls from about four feet up, and the heating and air conditioning. The wooden pews had to be refurbished, but were salvageable, said Father Blanchett in an interview several days after the re-dedication.
“The other big thing was replacing the roof,” Father Blanchett said. “At first we thought that we’d be able to repair it but the wind damage was worse than estimated and it had to be replaced.”
Father Blanchett said crews worked on the roof right up until days before the chapel reopened. “We came very close to missing the deadline,” he said. “We went right down to the wire to get it finished in time for Memorial Day.”
That deadline was one neither Father Blanchett nor anyone else in the parish – and perhaps even the town – wanted to miss.
“It was so important,” he said. “Last summer, you could still see the very definite effect of Hurricane Sandy when you looked down the streets of the town. This summer, having the chapel re-open was our way of saying the Jersey Shore is coming back...”
“It was critical from a Catholic standpoint as well because this is the only church at the beach” in Manasquan, Father Blanchett said. “When people walk to the beach, they see a symbol that our Catholicism doesn’t take a vacation from God.
[[In-content Ad]]
Related Stories
Monday, October 28, 2024
E-Editions
Events
By Lois Rogers | Correspondent
The unofficial start of summer began on a joyful note along the ocean in Manasquan as Our Lady, Star of the Sea Chapel opened its doors once again for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
To see photo gallery on this story, click here.
The building, which stands just about a block away from the Atlantic Ocean and is part of St. Denis Parish there, had taken a fierce battering from the ocean’s roiling waters during Superstorm Sandy nearly 18 months earlier.
And it was clear from the crowd assembled on May 25, the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, that re-dedication of the beloved ocean-side house of prayer, originally built for summer visitors under the direction of former pastor Msgr. James A. Harding, was just what they’d hoped for all these months. In fact, hope was one of the keys of the homily offered by Father Edward H. Blanchett, pastor, at the Mass. After blessing the restored chapel with holy water, Father Blanchett began by noting that some of the parishioners – many of whom also suffered the effects of the storm – had been counting the actual number of days – 578 – and weeks – 82 – until the chapel reopened.
“Welcome back and welcome home,” he told them as he acknowledged the “many who are still struggling with the effects from the storm.”
He encouraged those present to look with hope at the recovery of the chapel as well as the development going on around the borough which indicate that healing is underway. For so long, he said, “it had seemed so difficult to find hope. But we come together today to give witness to hope and to thank God and the work of our hands,” for what has been accomplished.
“We look forward in faith,” he said, having overcome the ravages brought about by the force of nature.”
A small plaque placed several feet up on the wall by the entry way marks the waterline gan front left by Sandy.
Families returning for worship for the first since the storm seemed energized by the fact that the chapel was open once again.
It was, they said, a sign of hope and recovery for people who, in many cases, had lost much themselves. “It’s a good nice feeling, we’re very excited about it,” said Robert Shaloub whose four-year-old son, Robert, rode happily on Shaloub’s shoulders as he exited the chapel with wife, Gina.
“It’s a sign of things getting better,” said Michael Long, who attended the Mass with his wife Karen and their children.
“This was the place we regularly came to Mass” in the summer, said Long, a member of the parish for 25 years. “You would meet the same people every week. There was a nice family feeling about it.”
Long noted that St. Denis Church and St. Denis School had both been severely damaged by the storm.
Both were repaired through very hard work, he said.
Long said it was a good feeling to see “the last piece” in place and open.
The chapel took a direct hit from the ocean surge, destroying the interior furnishings, necessitating the replacement of the floors, the inside walls from about four feet up, and the heating and air conditioning. The wooden pews had to be refurbished, but were salvageable, said Father Blanchett in an interview several days after the re-dedication.
“The other big thing was replacing the roof,” Father Blanchett said. “At first we thought that we’d be able to repair it but the wind damage was worse than estimated and it had to be replaced.”
Father Blanchett said crews worked on the roof right up until days before the chapel reopened. “We came very close to missing the deadline,” he said. “We went right down to the wire to get it finished in time for Memorial Day.”
That deadline was one neither Father Blanchett nor anyone else in the parish – and perhaps even the town – wanted to miss.
“It was so important,” he said. “Last summer, you could still see the very definite effect of Hurricane Sandy when you looked down the streets of the town. This summer, having the chapel re-open was our way of saying the Jersey Shore is coming back...”
“It was critical from a Catholic standpoint as well because this is the only church at the beach” in Manasquan, Father Blanchett said. “When people walk to the beach, they see a symbol that our Catholicism doesn’t take a vacation from God.
[[In-content Ad]]