The story continues

Thought I would share a couple of interior shots of the Chapel of Saints Peter and Paul.

Running Back

Apologies for the length of time between posts. I had the "rough duty" of a trip to Poland, Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary as a Lenten pilgrimage and just returned on April 1. The picture is of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. Europe is full of the beautiful churches and I couldn't help think of the Chapel of Saints Peter and Paul. Our Chapel could fit inside some of these grand Cathedrals and Basilicas of Europe but regardless of its size I pray that it will be a place of prayer and worship that is significant in the lives of the people of Tyler as the basilicas have been significant in the lives of the people in Europe. It was a wonderful trip that covered the spectrum from glorious Cathedrals, the beauties of the country side and the memory of the Nazi concentration camps. I prayed for all of the diocese and all who have requested special prayers as we traveled. As you can imagine that is quite a long list but it was a blessing to be able to pray for all of you at the font where John Paul II was baptized, at the cell where St. Maximillian Kolbe was imprisoned before he was martyred, at the Shine of Saint Faustina and at some many other holy sites. The Chapel is going well. Lots of details to work on simultaneously but when I get overwhelmed I think of what it must have been like to build the Cathedrals of Europe in the Middle Ages............no Email or cell phones for sure!!!!!!!!! I didn't manage to run in Europe but we of course did a lot of walking and I did take the chance to exercise in the fitness rooms of a couple of the hotels..........have to work off all that Polish and Austrian food!!!! Since I've been back I've gotten some good runs in as I prepare for the 25th St. Gregory fun run. I was there for the first Fun Run in 1986 and although I've missed a few I've been there for most of them. I'll try to keep you "posted" more frequently as the Spring continues into summer.

Springing Forward

These Apostolic Patrons are watching over us as we continue to build a Chapel dedicated to their wholehearted discipleship in Jesus Christ.

As we move into the Lenten Season let us pray that our faith can gain strength as theirs did. It seems that Peter and Paul are especially good Lenten patrons because they both stumbled along the way but relying on the Lord's mercy they were able to get up and continue the journey and grow in faithfulness along the way.

If Peter had despaired after his threefold denial rather than being the Prince of the Apostles and the first Pope he could have been known through the ages as "The One who Denied Christ".

If Paul had failed to continue to seek the truth of His Lord he could have been forever remembered as "The Great Persecutor of Christ".

Instead both of them became great witnesses, Great Apostles and they continue to inspire us today.

Coming Together

A little harder to see on this cloudy day but the Chapel does continue to come together. I've had information from the firm that is designing the altar, ambo, baptismal font and tabernacle throne. I just spoke to one of the companies making a proposal for the stained glass. We've heard from the pew company that we've chosen based in North Dakota. Lots of moving parts but things are progressing well.

The time seems to slip through my fingers. I went to New Mexico for a couple of days of skiing and managed not to break anything. I also managed to come home with a bug that layed me low for a couple of days...........pretty powerful virus I suppose. I didn't feel like doing much of anything for a couple of days there. I'm better now but still feeling the after effects. A friend told me the doctor told them that the cough would last for a month............sounds fun.

Today is the Feast of the Martyr Polycarp. I had mass with the Gorman students this morning and I told them I bet no one has a friend or family member named Polycarp...............sounds like something industrial to me!!!!

Polycarp was martyred sometime in the 2nd Century of the Church. I encouraged the kids to respect the name of Jesus Christ because there is Power in His Name and martyrs like Polycarp were willing to die rather than to deny the name of Jesus. I urged them to be very careful not to use the name of Jesus as a meer exclamation or even worse to use the name of Our Lord in any blasphemous way at all. Sadly they hear examples of the misuse of the Lord's name on a daily basis but hopefully we can all remember to be extra cautious about the sacred name of the Son of God.

Let us pray that the Chapel of Saints Peter and Paul will be one more place where the name of the Lord is held Sacred and proclaimed as our Savior. May it be a "Light on the Loop" reminding all who pass by to keep Holy the Name of the Lord.

Pictures Continue to tell the story

As you can see the Chapel of Saints Peter and Paul continues to take shape. The beautiful blue sky in these pictures is a wonderful backdrop for the pictures. I'm sure the workers are glad to see it and be able to work in some warmer temperatures. The forecasters tell us that tomorrow February 9, we are likely to get more snow and have the temperatures drop into the teens again.

If you look closely at the picture below you can see the roofline taking shape over what will be the choir area to the congregations right of the main altar. We are hoping for bids from various stained glass companies in mid-February. There is still a lot to develop regarding the stained glass but we are making progress.

We are also hoping to receive plans for the altar, ambo, baptismal font and tabernacle throne in the next few days. I'll do my best to keep you posted.

A Photo Update

Taking Shape

This silhouette of the Chapel of Saints Peter and Paul show that it is really taking shape. It is exciting to see the architectural notes that call to mind the Cathedral while at the same time highlighting the Chapel of Saints Peter and Paul as a new Catholic sanctuary for the city of Tyler.

In the Catholic liturgical calendar today we celebrate two very early bishops who were mentioned in the bible, Timothy and Titus. The epistles of Paul advising them on their work in the early Church are often called the pastoral epistles because of the pastoral advice and guidance they offer to these two early leaders and ultimatlely to all disciples of Jesus Christ.

I find it to be especially inspiring to witness the construction of this Chapel dedicated to the two great apostles Peter and Paul on this day that the universal Church celebrates two leaders of the next generation of Christians, Timothy and Titus. It is a reminder that the mission they shared continues for all of us. Like Peter and Paul, Timothy and Titus and Lois and Eunice mentioned in Paul's letters as part of Timothy's family, we continue to be called to the same work........proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ the Son of God.

Hopefully Timothy and Titus will inspire all of us to serve the Lord with Joy and proclaim His wonderful message. I have to laugh a bit as I'm reminded of Paul's famous words about "running the race". This blog started as a page about running but with the excitement of the Chapel I've allowed it to be "hijacked" a bit. I think that is ultimately a good thing because the most important "race" we run is the spiritual journey that our Lord calls us to share.

Let us pray that the Chapel of Saints Peter and Paul will be a place that inspires many to a deeper faith in Jesus Christ and a fuller life in our Catholic Church.