Restoring a Sacred Space: Dedication

The long-awaited dedication of our monastery church today was a beautiful and most memorable occasion. The Mass and the Rite of Dedication took on special meaning with the participation of the sisters, their special guests and brother Benedictines from Saint Meinrad Archabbey, and diocesan clergy.

Hardly able to contain their joy before the dedication ceremony, the sisters gather in the Blessed Virgin Room across from the church entrance waiting to process into their newly restored church.

Monastery liturgist and musician Sister Michelle Mohr directs the sisters in the opening hymn, "All Are Welcome," with a refrain, "All are welcome...in this place."

Sister Kristine Anne Harpenau blesses the community with holy water at the beginning of the Mass. After she, Sister Joan Scheller, and Archabbot Justin DuVall sprinkled the people, altar, and other areas of the church, ministers of ritual Sisters Ann Francis Hillenbrand, Betty Drewes (center), and Michelle Catherine Sinkhorn poured the remainder of blessed water into the new holy water font located at the entrance of the church.

Archabbot Justin presents a new lectionary to readers Sister Rose Mary Rexing and Nancy Habig and charges them to proclaim God's word. Rev. Julian Peters serves as master of ceremonies.

Archabbot Justin anoints the altar with sacred chrism. With this anointing, the altar becomes a symbol of Christ, "the Anointed One." He then anointed walls and doors representing the North, South, East, and West.

Assisted by Father Julian, Archabbot Justin prepares for the incensation of the altar and the church. Sisters Betty Drewes, Kate Willegal, Ann Francis Hillenbrand, and Michelle Catherine Sinkhorn hold bowls for the incense. Incense is burned on the altar to signify the sacrifice of Christ.

Sister Kristine Anne and the past prioresses, Sisters Kathryn Huber, Joella Kidwell, and Carlita Koch, incensed all areas of the church as well as the assembly, the living temples of God.

A less solemn moment occurred when heavy smoke from the incense in the sanctuary area activated the smoke detectors. Following the ritual of incensation, ministers placed the bowls of burning incense on the colonnade outside the church.