By Julie A. Miller
Catholic Herald
Symbols turn gym into place of worship
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As the focal point of the liturgy, the altar for the Jubilee Mass was placed in the center of the Superior Senior High School gymnasium. Bishop Raphael M. Fliss, pictured at right center, presides at the Mass surrounded by the priests, deacons and faithful of the diocese. (Photo by Richard Iverson) |
SUPERIOR -- The gymnasium of Superior Senior High School was the location of the diocesan Jubilee Mass. To make the space an appropriate place for such an important liturgy, Fr. Gabriel Baltes brought in items with special symbolism. Baltes, a Benedictine, is director of the diocesan Office of Worship.
A statue of the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child, borrowed from St. William Parish in Pattison Park, stood near the ambo platform."Mary becomes the model of how we hear the Word," said Baltes.
Baltes also indicated the significance of two of the items carried in the processional. The cross, also from St. William, was made of beveled glass with five red stones symbolizing Christ's wounds. A banner, decorated with gold and white streamers, was carried before the book to honor the Gospel, he added. The banner was made by Chancery employee Becky Stewart for the Chrism Mass last April.
The altar was covered by a golden cloth made especially for the Mass by Barb Tomczak of St. Anthony de Padua Parish in Park Falls. "I had done an altar cloth at St. Anthony for the Chrism Mass. Fr. Gabriel (Baltes) was present and ... he contacted me in July or so and asked me if I would do it," Tomczak said.
During his homily, Bishop Raphael M. Fliss talked about three items of historic value that he was using during the Mass. He held up a little cross he wore over his heart. "This little cross was a gift to the first bishop of the diocese, Augustine (F.) Schinner. It came from the people he served in Milwaukee at Ss. Peter and Paul Church. It was given to him when he was named bishop," he said.
Fliss also carried Schinner's pastoral staff. "The crosier was a gift to that same bishop, Bishop Schinner, from the priests of this geographic area ... back in the year 1905," Fliss said.
The chalice used for the Eucharist belonged to Joseph J. Annabring, seventh bishop of the diocese. "Most likely he used it when the City of Superior observed its 100th birthday on July 18 in 1954. That was an afternoon field Mass. It happened in center field in the Municipal Stadium," Fliss said, the ninth bishop of Superior.
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2000