St. Ambrose Catholic Church rededicated after two-year interior renovation process

IC photo/Marie Mischel

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Bishop Oscar Solis and Fr. Andrzej Skrzypiec are shown with the architectural plans and ceremonial key to the renovated church, which were presented by Peggy McDonough-Jan of MHTN Architects.

SALT LAKE CITY — Bishop Oscar A. Solis joined the community of St. Ambrose Parish on Dec. 7 for a Mass to celebrate the church’s bright new architectural elements filled with centuries-old traditional symbolism.

“We come to celebrate and rejoice before God our Lord,” said Fr. Andrzej Skrzypiec, pastor, as he welcomed the “dear people of St. Ambrose. … We rejoice to have been able to complete the renovation of God’s house, in which we hope and pray people will be touched by God.”

Among the dignitaries attending the Mass were Msgr. Colin F. Bircumshaw, vicar general of the diocese; numerous diocesan priests; deacons and their wives; religious women; members of the Knights of Columbus; and Kevin R. Duncan, a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Fr. Skrzypiec specifically thanked “all those who helped make this dream a reality” for their generosity in contributing to the $1 million renovation. The restoration, which took more than two years, included replacing the 30-year-old thread-bare carpet with tiling, refurbishing and rearranging the pews so that the worship space is accessible to those with disabilities, and placing the altar so it is the central object in the sanctuary. In addition, a new baptismal font was purchased because the old one was cracked beyond repair.

While the old baptismal font had been in the vestibule, the new one is at the entrance of nave, “emphasizing the idea of Baptism as the entry to the Church,” according to the commemorative booklet. The font is on the same axis as the altar, highlighting the connection between Baptism and the Eucharist.

The renovation also brought new sanctuary furniture, a better sound system and upgraded lighting. The parish’s original 14-foot crucifix, suspended above the altar and under its own light fixture so “The light shining down on Christ upon the Cross will always remind those present at prayer that the Cross is not the end, but that it leads to the Light of the Resurrection,” the commemorative booklet states.

The Rite of Dedication, which was celebrated on the feast of the parish’s patron, included the blessing through incensing and sprinkling with holy water of the church and the congregation. Also, the altar was consecrated and covered with linens. Then candles at the altar and around the church were lit.

Music throughout the Mass was provided by the St. Ambrose Choir accompanied by the Roper Memorial Pipe Organ, which the parish created in 2012 by merging their Wicks organ with a Holtkamp organ that previously had been at the Episcopal Cathedral Church of Saint Mark.

The Mass was a special occasion in the life of the parish, said Bishop Solis during his homily, adding that he was “delighted to celebrate the Holy Eucharist to thank the Lord for this special blessing. The Diocese of Salt Lake City joins your parish community in celebrating this momentous event with great joy and excitement.”

Nevertheless, the Mass was not merely about celebrating the renovation, he said. “Churches are not structures to impress and we cannot take pride of our accomplishments because all good things come from God. We build and adorn churches to be a holy ground, a sacred space where Christ dwells and his saving words and deeds are made present so that, in every age, God’s redeeming love might be proclaimed in the world.”

He encouraged those present to make the church an important part of their life. “Come and commune with God in prayer. However, don’t limit yourself to praying so He will listen to us. Rather, when you pray, build and make yourselves something new, better and holier children of God. … Remember, your church is a precious and holy gift from God, the living source and fountain of our holiness. Let St. Ambrose Church and your faith shine as a beacon of the light of Christ, of holy things, of godly things and of divine gifts so that all who come and visit this place, will depart with eagerness, ardor and joy to spread the Good News of God’s love and salvation to the world,” he said.

Among the ministers of the Mass were students from J.E. Cosgriff Memorial Catholic School, who served at the altar, in the choir and as greeters. “They know that there’s a place for them in this church,” said Betsy Hunt, principal.

The church looks nicer without the carpet, and the acoustics are better, said Theodore Viollet, Cosgriff Class of 2016, who was one of the altar servers. Also, “from the congregation’s point of view the priests and deacons look a lot smaller from down there, and that can be taken as a good thing because they’re not the center of attention; instead it’s God,” he said.

Fr. Skrzypiec said that at the rededication Mass, “it was uplifting to see all the people from the parish … and we experienced this glorious moment together.”