The newly remodeled chapel at Holy Spirit Retirement Home in Sioux City was blessed by Bishop Walker Nickless during 10:30 a.m. weekday Mass on Oct. 1, the feast day of St. Therese of Lisieux.
Following the processional, in prayer the bishop asked God to “sanctity therefore, with your blessing, this water you have created that is sprinkled on us and on the walls of the chapel and may it be a sign of the cleansing waters of salvation.” The walls, people gathered and altar were then blessed with holy water.
Among those gathered for the liturgy were Holy Spirit residents, board members and staff. Additional residents watched the Mass via telecast to their rooms. Father Mark Stoll, chaplain of Holy Spirit Retirement Home, proclaimed the Gospel and concelebrated. Other concelebrants were Father Armand Bertrand, Father Tom Toft and Father Vern Smith.
Praise and thanksgiving During his homily, Bishop Nickless told the congregation that the chapel should be the center of all they do at Holy Spirit.
“Here the Lord dwells in our midst and he’s always present in the Eucharist,” he said. “As we bless this chapel and altar today, we give thanks and praise to God for all of the blessings he gives to us. The Diocese of Sioux City is proud and honored with the privilege of taking care of you, the residents. We hope to rejoice with you one day as you continue your journey of life in the joy of heaven.”
He told them this was always their home and together, “we are family.”
Bishop Nickless made note it was the feast of St. Therese, the Little Flower, who is known for her simple way to holiness and doing little things with great love.
Bishop Walker Nickless gives the homily during the Oct. 1 Mass at Holy Spirit Retirement Home in Sioux City.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS! “Here at Holy Spirit, we try to do little things for you with great love. Small acts of kindness and love make us a family of faith,” said the bishop, telling the residents they were loved and cherished. Referring to the Scripture reading by Isaiah, he added, “We are all God’s chosen people. We are his family … and what we do for each other, we do for Christ.” He concluded his sermon by commenting on the beauty of the new chapel, reminding residents and staff that whenever they feel alone they can come to the chapel.
“This is a beautiful place, a taste of heaven where we can feel God’s love for one another. All of us have a part to play in making this place – Holy Spirit Retirement Home – a place of comfort and peace. All of us can do ordinary things with great love, a smile, a kind word, a pat on the back, an understanding heart. We interact with one another as we interact with our Lord,” said Bishop Nickless, asking them to never let anyone feel alone or forgotten.
Peaceful and prayerful Following the liturgy, the executive director of the retirement home, Dr. Colleen McCarty, expressed her appreciation for Bishop Nickless celebrating Mass and blessed the remodeled chapel at Holy Spirit. As a sidenote, she mentioned she was on hand for the bishop’s episcopal ordination in 2006 and as his retirement nears it made his presence at the blessing all the more special.
“The chapel is very beautiful and peaceful,” she said. “It is truly a place for all of the residents and staff to join in solemn prayer.”
Joining the Holy Spirit staff in April, Dr. McCarty said being able to attend daily Mass in the chapel has been a true blessing for her personally.
In an interview prior to the blessing, Deb Poss, director of development and marketing at Holy Spirit, provided an overview of the chapel remodeling project.
When she joined the staff five years ago, Poss pointed out she already knew the chapel needed remodeling and in time the project became a reality.
MRHD grant “It is such a spiritual, beautiful place and a purposeful place of why so many of our families and residents come to Holy Spirit,” she said. “I was on a mission and had been trying to look at some grants these past couple years and last year we were selected to receive a MRHD (Missouri River Historical Development, Inc.) impact grant.
With that impact grant, Holy Spirit was required to raise some funds and in turn they received $50,000 from MRHD. That was the catalyst needed to get to work on the remodeling project as there was a timeline tied to the grant.
Poss noted she worked closely with Father Francis Makwinja, the former chaplain, to establish some needs and wants for the project. They worked closely with Father Andrew Galles, diocesan director of worship.
To raise the facility’s portion of funds, Poss noted they initiated a chapel offertory plan – a weekly collection on Sundays - that raised $25,000, enabling a total remodeling project budget of $75,000.
The Holy Spirit Sisters who serve at the retirement home dressed the altar for the eucharistic celebration.Included in the project was tearing out old wallpaper, fixing wall cracks/joints and painting not only the chapel but in the hallway leading to the chapel. “With the new paint, we brought in all new flooring – carpet in the hallway and the main area of the chapel and vinyl in the sacristy. We have new lighting and some new ceiling fans,” said Poss, who noted new congregational seating chairs were also part of the project.
The new color palette focuses on a soft blue with accents of light and dark blue. While the original altar remains, the project included new credence tables and celebrant chairs.
Signage, statuary, a larger crucifix hanging behind the altar and other small touches were also part of the project.
“We were also able to update the hallway bathroom too,” noted the development director. “The whole space has been renovated.”
The project, noted Poss, exceeded her expectations and the best part of it has been seeing the reactions of the residents.
“They are so grateful for such a beautiful place to worship,” she said.
Mass is offered in the chapel at 10:30 a.m. Sunday through Friday.