By Reagan Scott
for the Register
An estimated 550 people gathered to celebrate the rededication of St. Peter Church in Lincoln March 23.
The Mass, celebrated in the newly remodeled church, marked a new chapter for the 33-year-old parish and the culmination of a two-year capital campaign begun in 2021.
Bishop James Conley served as the principal celebrant for the Mass, and was assisted by master of ceremonies Father Christopher Eckrich, pastor Eric Clark, parochial vicars Father Brian Wirth and Father Shravan Raminedi and deacons Santiago Izquierdo and Ranil Weerackoon.
The guest list included those who gave their time, talent and treasure to the campaign, a Knights of Columbus honor guard, 40 priests, religious sisters and diocesan seminarians.
Bishop Conley acknowledged what a “beautiful and happy day” it was for the parish. He told those in attendance, “By your leadership, sacrifice and stewardship, you have created something beautiful for God.”
Because St. Peter Church had been dedicated previously, and no major structural changes were made during the course of the renovations, the church was rededicated. But the new altar was consecrated during the course of the Mass.
After the entrance and greeting, Bishop Conley sprinkled the altar and congregants with holy water. Following the homily, the parish’s relics, belonging to St. Peter and St. Pius X, were placed in the altar, following the tradition of the early Christians who celebrated Mass above the tombs of the apostles and martyrs.
Bishop Conley then anointed the altar and walls of the church with chrism and incensed the altar before the chrism was removed and the altar cloth put in place.
“It’s all about the altar,” Bishop Conley said. “It’s like we’re clothing Jesus and preparing a place for him… creating a suitable place to give worship and praise to God.”
After the altar was prepared, the lights in the church, which had been off up to that point, were turned on, eliciting a few gasps from the attendees as the full beauty of the changes was made visible.
Bishop Conley said the rededication of a church and consecration of an altar are rare experiences in the life of a parish, and the liturgy seemed to elicit an emotional response in those celebrating.
“The beautiful thing about a dedication Mass is in a way, it models the sacraments of initiation of the person,” Father Clark said. “There’s a sprinkling rite of holy water, which calls to mind our Baptism. Then there’s the consecration of the altar and the walls with sacred chrism, which calls to mind our Confirmation. And then there’s the Mass for the first time, which calls to mind our first Holy Communion.”
Editor's Note: see a slideshow of photos from the Mass
Bishop Conley said the way to God is a way of beauty, and a reason why the Church employs beauty in its worship. He described the renovations the parish has made as much more than simply a beautification, but something truly evangelical in nature.
He encouraged those in attendance to invite friends and neighbors who may have attended in the past back to the Church.
“What a great occasion to invite them back to see the new Church, to invite them back home where they belong,” he said.
Already, Father Clark has seen fruit from the renovation, which was in keeping with one of the parish’s cultural norms: “we incorporate beauty in our sacred liturgy and sacred space.”
Father Clark said many people stop by, “just to be attracted to the beauty.”
“It’s drawn them into an encounter with Jesus.”
Karen Largen, a member of the design team and parishioner at St. Peter since 1993, said, “We haven’t added a single square foot, but it was just lacking in detail and ornamentation, and we did every square inch. To hear the people’s comments after every Mass, people would come up and peek in the windows just to check the progress… They were just taken aback because it is an extreme difference.”
Largen’s favorite part, the ceiling, is covered in 4,000 gold leaf stars, the application of which took three months.
The church is designed in the Romanesque style, after the basilica of Saint Apollinarius in Ravenna, Italy, which was built in the sixth century. Two components of the space modeled after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome include the floors and the Holy Spirit window above the sanctuary.
“The Holy Spirit window is probably my favorite, just knowing this project is the fruit of the Holy Spirit,” Father Clark said.
Major changes include the installation of the new altar and reredos, the raising of the sanctuary and inclusion of an ADA-compliant ramp and handrail, new stations of the cross and murals depicting 12 figures integral to salvation history from the Old Testament and the 12 apostles. New stained-glass windows were installed, each depicting a scene from the life of St. Peter.
The altar and liturgical furnishings were crafted in Socuéllamos, Spain, and the marble for the floors came from Spain as well. The stained-glass windows are made with glass from Munich and were crafted by Conrad Schmitt Studios, based out of Milwaukee.
John Kuchta, a trustee for the parish, a member of the design team and campaign committee for the project, has been a parishioner at St. Peter since its founding. He’s been amazed to see the transformation of the space since construction began last summer.
“I was here for the first dedication of the church, and of course back then, we didn’t have any money, so we couldn’t really do anything extra special,” he said. “We were lucky just to build the church. To see what’s happened here, it’s just been unbelievable. And I know that it was the right thing to do because the parishioners were just so willing to give money for this project.”
The inspiration for the renovations to the church itself came about after Father Clark stripped the altar on Good Friday in 2021 and contemplated the wood veneer instead of an altar stone. He had also noticed that the sanctuary was too low to the ground, which made it hard for people in the back of the church to see during Mass.
It was quickly determined that if the altar was going to be replaced, and the sanctuary raised, additional cosmetic changes were needed as well. While architectural firms were initially considered for the renovations, it was decided that the parish would seek out a design studio to make updates instead, and leave the structure of the church the same.
The parish selected a design from Conrad Schmitt Studios, and showed it to 500 people to solicit feedback on a potential change.
Kuchta said, “Overwhelmingly people said, ‘Yes, we want this. Now is the time; we’ll support it.’”
The renovations encompassed just one part of a larger capital campaign that also included deferred maintenance, increasing security and establishing an endowment for the future of the parish.
Once committed to the plans, Father Clark approached 60 families to ask if they would contribute to the campaign. After receiving many favorable responses, Father Clark solicited the help of the rest of the parish. In total, 542 households pledged $9 million. The parish borrowed nothing from the diocese, and the project has come in on time and under budget.
Before renovations began, new HVAC, boiler and fire alarm systems were installed, the parking lots were repaved, new marquees were added and security was increased with new lighting, security cameras and keyless door entry. Largen said the changes weren’t showy, but necessary.
The only outstanding tasks to be completed include the installation of six stained-glass windows in the church and one in the narthex, as well as covering the rest of the pew cushions with new fabric.
Father Clark said he is hopeful these final touches will be in place by the time the parish’s students celebrate their first Holy Communion and Confirmation in May.
While the new updates are sure to inspire awe in church-goers at the parish, they will also offer them the opportunity to learn, as well.
Kuchta said, “The teaching moments that are now available in the church, and the ambiance going in there to pray now is just going to be so significantly enhanced, I think.”
Father Clark noted that since people are more visual learners, having the murals on the walls depicting Old Testament figures from Adam and Eve to Judas Maccabees can help to improve their understanding of salvation history.
Both a pamphlet and video will be made available explaining the figures and their significance.
The stained-glass windows, depicting scenes from the life of St. Peter and his walk with Jesus, will also provide a learning opportunity.
Last year, Father Clark asked Vern Steiner, president of The Emmaus Institute for Biblical Studies and parishioner at St. Peter, if he would be willing to write a Bible study for the windows.
The 155-page book he put together, entitled, “Encountering the Light of Jesus Through the Eyes of Saint Peter - Stained Glass Reflections from the Life of our Patron Saint,” will soon be sent off for publication. Each window will be pictured in the book, along with the full Biblical text for the passage cited in that particular window, a brief commentary with questions and/or suggestions for reflection, followed by a short personal prayer.
Steiner said the longest reflection is on the sainted glass window that will hang in the narthex, based on Matthew 16, the Keys of Saint Peter.
“It was such a wonderful experience for me personally,” he said. “I had never slowed down and really pondered in depth some of these passages, and it was spiritually so enriching. I hope it will have a similar effect on people who pick it up and make their way through it.”
Kuchta said that with all the new infrastructure in place, the parish is ready for the next 50 years, especially with the establishment of an endowment for the parish, the final piece of the campaign.
“Whatever money we have left over will go into an endowment so we can use that money to continue to provide maintenance for the church facility and the school facility moving forward,” he said.
Even before the parish got to celebrate Holy Week in the new space, Largen saw how the changes made at St. Peter’s have unified the parishioners, and made them excited for the future.
“It’s more befitting for the grandeur of God,” she said. “We already have a good Sunday Mass attendance. I think this renovation will only bolster that.”
