Fr. Steinhausen Would Approve

Sr. Delores Dolezal taught 2nd grade in our school and CCD in the 1980's. (She's pictured above visiting our preschool during Catholic Schools Week last year.) She was also part of the team that planned the current church with Fr. Steinhausen. This morning she was here for Mass and got to see the changes.

She said she was initially disappointed when she learned the rising Jesus was going to be moved, but now that she saw the crucifix and the changes she likes it. She said "Fr. Steinhausen would approve!"

The Papillion Times Covers the Crucifix

The Papillion Times has a front page article about out new crucifix in their latest issue. Reporter Mike Bell took the picture above, and a few more. See the article here.

We have a Crucifix

Our crucifix arrived this morning.

It was molded in three pieces. Two of those parts were joined in the studio, but the third could't be added outisde the church, otherwise it wouldn't have fit through the door.

After singing the back as the scultptor, artist John Lajba asked those who were helping put it up to sign it as well.

First the top portion was hoisted and hung.

Then the second piece was attached.

 After the inital try, the bottom portion had

 to be shifted 1/4 of an inch to the left.

 Then John worked with the seam

 so it wouldn't be noticeable.

Just as the work on the crucifix was finished,

 the spotlight on the Rising Christ burned out.

Stations of the Cross are tonight at 7:00.

A Sneak Peek at the Crucifix

Yesterday, most of the painting was done for our new crucifix. Today some detail work continues to create accents within this piece.This picture is from this morning.

Working on the Crucifix

Artist John Lajba is continuing to work on our crucifix. In order to fit it in our door, he has it in two pieces. So much of his work lately has been making certain it will fit together easily once it is brought inside.

 There is wood behind the piece

where the mounting brackets will go.

Today he is remiving imperfections, some by sanding ... 

 ... but most of it is detail work.

As he has been working on this crucifix, John often found himelf thinking about the wounds of Christ. In life we all go through trials and suffering. It is amazing that Jesus was so full of love that he was willing to enter into that suffering with us.

This weekend John will continue to make adjustments, then begin the painting stage.

Is it Crooked?

The crucifix will not arrive until next week. But, in anticipation of it's arrival, a cross was put together the size of the crucifix.

Then, under Fr. Damian's watchful eye,

 we figured out the proper height for it.

Previewing the Crucifix.

The crucifix artist John Lajba is working on for our parish is large. So large that he has had a mirror positioned to he can see the whole thing as he works on details.

He began with pieces of foam which he covered with clay and worked to mold that.

While still in the clay stage, Fr. Damian brought some parishioners to look at the work in progress and see what they think of it.

Because of the size/shape, the clay model will be cut into three pieces and a mold created for each of the three.

From those mold we will get three fiberglass pieces. Two of these will be fitted together right away, and the third added in the church. If all three were assembled right away, it wouldn't fit in the door.

Working on a Snow Day

Some may have had today as a snow day, but work continued on the baptismal font ...

... the new storage room ...

... converting the old Usher's/Server's

 Room to hold the elevator ...

... and the new crucifix.

So for some, it was a very busy day.

He speaks in stillness using the meek

One of the most incredible mysteries of Christmas is that our Redeemer, the Creator of the Universe, came to us an infant, a helpless child. Humility is God's mode of operation. He tends to speak to us in stillness and quiet. He likes to use the meek, the poor and the powerless to accomplish His will.

In my own life, God often speaks through my children. Most parents and teachers have experienced this. We know children can teach us a thing or two. Let me share three of my experiences. They all focus on our crucified Lord (which I'm certain is not a coincidence).

Years ago, as I was picking up a kindergartener from school, I had a religious catalog sitting on the car seat. When my son jumped inside, he immediately saw the crucifix on the catalog's cover and lamented, "Poor Jesus."

His words stabbed into my heart. How often had I looked at a crucifix and seen nothing, other than a religious decoration? Would I have been able to look at an image of any of my loved ones being tortured and be devoid of emotion? My heart had become so calloused. Years of exposure to religous images made them seem ordinary, commonplace. My kindergartener showed me that I had lost the eyes and heart of a child, which readily recognize the eternal and real.

On another occasion, during Lent, our family was watching a G-rated movie about Christ's Passion. A different son, who also was very young at the time, approached me, visibly distressed. He was stunned. How could someone betray Jesus with a kiss?

Somehow, that detail never got my full attention. But again, a child's words struck my heart, exposing its hardness after years of hearing the Passion story. My son made me ponder how much Judas' betrayal, and the manner in which it was delivered, must have hurt Jesus. I, too, consider myself Jesus' friend. And I also betray Him.

The third incident happened when I was getting ready to leave home and I draped a crucifix pendant around my neck. Another son, 3 or 4 years old at the time, noticed the crucifix at first glance. He drew close to examine it. "That's beautiful," he said. And he asked to kiss the crucifix (a nice devotion he has developed). "You should always wear a cross, Mom," he said.

"Yes, I should," I answered, knowing immediately Whose voice I was hearing. I recognized God's voice because He had been hinting about that subject for a while. But suddenly, through the words of a preschooler, His will became clearer: I should always bear the image of my crucified Lord. And not just with jewelry.

Inspired by this Year of Faith we will be posting columns like this about exploring and/or deepening our faith. Watch for it on Thursdays.

Images of Faith

St. Columbkille Catholic School is looking internally as they prepare to look moving to a higher level of accredidation. To do that, it isn't enough to say that we are a Catholic school. We must also show Indicators of the faith life present in the school.

To help with this, a tour was made through the school on Thursday, October 27th to document Images of Faith that are present in the school. We found 584 images of faith in the school (not counting our students, teachers and staff.)

We found 132 images of Jesus in the school including 39 crucifixes.

 There were 77 images of Mary.

There were three images of St. Columbkille.

 Classes had the weekly Bible verse displayed in a variety of ways.

There were numerous prayers and inspirational Bible

quotes along with statues and 27 Holy Water fonts.

These 584 Images of Faith are among the reminders

 to acknowledge God in our everyday life.