NOVEMBER 9, 2012 VOLUME 48, NUMBER 21 INSIDE: Page 6: The road to Vatican II Pages 7-10: Church teaching on cremation, funerals and the resurrection of the body Pages 12 and 13: High school soccer, volleyball, tennis and cross country Page 16: Bishop visits Lancaster Catholic Parishioners Rejoice in Dedication of Rebuilt Our Lady of Refuge Church By Jen Reed The Catholic Witness On Sept. 11, 2011, Karen Gipe watched in horror as Our Lady of Ref- uge Church in Doylesburg burned in a destructive fire, leaving only its brick structure behind. Awakened by the terrible news of the fire in the middle of the night, Mrs. Gipe had rushed the two miles from her house to the beloved historic church. She arrived in time to watch the roof collapse. More than 13 months later, on Oct. 28, Mrs. Gipe again stood with tears in her eyes as she gazed upon Our Lady of Refuge Church. It’s newly rebuilt now, and Bishop Joseph P. McFadden was there to dedi- cate it that day. “Praise God! Thanks be to God!” Mrs. Gipe exclaimed as parishioners made their way out of the church fol- lowing the Mass of Dedication. “We were able to rebuild, and we can cel- ebrate today!” For parishioners, the past year had been a long one, filled with grief over the loss, uncertainty about whether the church – a mission of Corpus Christi CHRIS HEISEY, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS Parish in Chambersburg – would be Thirteen months after a devastating fire at Our Lady of Refuge Church in Doylesburg, Father James O’Brien opens the doors to the rebuilt church Oct. 28 as Bishop Joseph P. McFadden looks on during the Rite of Dedication. Father O’Brien is More OUR LADY OF REFUGE, page 2 pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Chambersburg, of which Our Lady Refuge is a mission. After Sandy, Parishes Will Try to Go Forward Step by Step By Antonina Zielinska 30 for people who needed shel- Catholic News Service ter, and the chapel was open for adoration of the Blessed Sacra- After Hurricane Sandy swept ment. through the East Coast, leaving Father Kubrak said he also untold destruction behind, clean- was able to console people with ing efforts were under way at St. the sacrament of reconciliation. Rose of Lima Church in Rocka- A day after Hurricane Sandy way Beach, N.Y. ravaged the Brooklyn Diocese “Step by step, we will try to go with floods, fire and utility out- forward,” said Father Wladyslaw ages, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio Kubrak, parochial vicar, as he visited the most affected parish- shoveled leaves and branches off es to gain a better understanding the church driveway. of the state of the diocese and to Although the church sustained pray with his people. serious water damage and had “It’s hard to think that this no power, Father Kubrak was kind of destruction could happen not planning on evacuating. in our city,” he said as he rode He planned, however, to leave along the Rockaway Peninsula. Rockaway Peninsula to recharge The bishop traveled from his electrical batteries and to church to church and witnessed bring back fresh food. the devastating effects the He told The Tablet, newspaper ocean’s waters had on people’s of the Brooklyn Diocese, that lives, their homes and church he wanted to stay to continue to buildings. CNS/MARK C. OLSEN, U.S. AIR FORCE HANDOUT VIA REUTERS console the people coming for Aerial views taken during a search and rescue mission by the New Jersey Army National Guard In Breezy Point in the New guidance after they have lost show the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy to the New Jersey coast. Millions of people across York borough of Queens, fires so much. The church, he said, the eastern United States awoke to scenes of destruction wrought by monster storm Sandy, consumed more than 100 homes. stayed opened the night of Oct. which knocked out power to huge swathes of the nation’s most densely populated region. More SANDY, page 15 2 - THE CATHOLIC WITNESS, NOVEMBER 9, 2012 Faith and Life CHRIS HEISEY, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS Fallen leaves and the glow of church lights cast a warm hue over the grounds of Our Lady of Refuge Church Oct. 28 before parishioners arrive for its dedication. As living stones, they gather for Our Lady of Refuge Mass to listen to the Word of God, to celebrate the goodness of Jesus Christ, Continued from A1 and to be nourished by Christ’s Body rebuilt, and then waiting with antici- and Blood, the bishop said. pation as the reconstruction project “The Lord has chosen to dwell, and moved forward. he will dwell, in this church,” Bishop The strength and faith of the parish McFadden said. “We will reserve the community were among the focuses of Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle, Bishop McFadden’s homily during the and so it is here in Doylesburg that we dedication Mass. never have to go looking for God. We “In coming into this Church of Our know exactly where we can find him – Lady of Refuge, it’s important to un- right here in this church.” derstand that this building – as nice and Catholicism in Path Valley dates as beautiful as it is – is really not the back to 1737, when Thomas Doyle, a Church. This building, these walls, are Catholic, received 530 acres of land not the Church of Our Lady of Refuge. there. The first Mass was celebrated in You are,” he told parishioners. “The a local home in 1790. A log chapel that Church is made of living stones. The the Doyle family built next to the fami- Church is you and I, gathered together.” More OUR LADY OF REFUGE, page 3 Above: Bishop Joseph P. McFadden greets parishioners on the grounds of Our Lady of Refuge Church following the church’s dedication Oct. 28. Left: During the Rite of Dedication, Bishop Joseph P. McFadden anoints the altar with Sacred Chrism. NOVEMBER 9, 2012, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS - 3 Faith and Life Bishop Joseph P. McFadden anoints the walls of the church with Sacred Chrism as the congregation looks on during the dedication Mass. closed in Pottsville, Pa. And, enclosed Our Lady of Refuge beneath the concrete foundation is the walls of the church with holy water, and anointed the walls and the altar former tabernacle, a cross and other Continued from 2 with Sacred Chrism. items from the previous church. “It was a beautiful Mass!” exclaimed ly cemetery in 1802 eventually became The Mass of Dedication was filled the first church. The second church was 84-year-old Mary Vocke as she exited with rich symbolism. Parishioners the church with her husband Bill. They dedicated in November 1853. gathered outside the church for the start were married at Our Lady of Refuge in The current church is a symbolic of the 8:30 a.m. Mass as the church 1949 and raised two sons there. connection between the old and the keys were handed from the builder – Bracing herself against the chilly new. The brick shell from the second Conewago Enterprises – to the bishop, breezes and light rain that previewed church remains. While floors, walls, who handed them to Father James Hurricane Sandy, Mrs. Vocke smiled roofing, windows, plumbing and elec- O’Brien, pastor of Corpus Christi Par- at she looked up at trical wiring are new, the re-built ish, to open the doors. During the rite, the façade of the church includes pews from a church the bishop sprinkled the people and the church, where she’s been at- tending Mass her entire life. “I’m so happy that the bishop allowed us to rebuild,” she said. “I think this past year drew ev- eryone togeth- er, and we’re very appre- ciative of the community’s help, especially in allowing us to use Having worked on the project from the Community Center all this time for June to October, he came to know Mass.” many parishioners there as they eagerly Parishioners returned to that Com- watched the progress. munity Center after the Mass to cel- “They’ve been so excited about get- ting their church back,” he said. “That’s ebrate with brunch and a social. The why I’m here today. I’m very happy for occasion afforded them an opportunity them.” to reflect on the support of the commu- “Being able to rebuild was such a nity during the past 13 months. wonderful blessing,” said Mrs. Gipe. And as parishioners and clergy re- “Through the year, we kept our faith joiced in the re-building and dedica- alive. Our prayers went up to God. tion of Our Lady of Refuge Church, He blessed us, and we were able to re- Above: In a standing-room-only congregation, Brianne and Darren Gipe attend project construction supervisor Dave build.” Mass with their son, Kasen, who represents the fifth generation of both sides of Greenholt of Conewago Enterprises “It was very uplifting to watch ev- his family. In August 2011, Kasen was the last baby baptized at the previous Our shared in their happiness. eryone process into the new church to- Lady of Refuge Church, which was devastated by fire a month later. “For me, the best part of working on day,” she said. “It’s been a long year, Above, Right: Deacon Richard Ramsey lights a candle on the altar as Our Lady of this project is turning the church over but we’ve really come together in this Refuge Church becomes lit during the Rite of Dedication.