By Gia Myers • Posted October 23, 2024

Parishioners of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Limerick, Montgomery County, gathered before the Saturday Vigil Mass on Oct. 19 for the unveiling of a nine-foot bronze statue of St. Michael the Archangel, along with a special blessing of the statue by Bishop Keith Chylinski, rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Gwynedd.

Installed two weeks ago, the statue resides in the heart of the parish’s grounds, surrounded by the church, education center and ministry center.

The statue took about five months to be created by Cave Company, a 116-year-old maker of ecclesiastical products located in New York state.

It is a classical depiction of the archangel with a lance vanquishing Satan. According to Church tradition, St. Michael is associated with courage, protection, and divine intervention.

Father Paul Brandt, pastor of St. Teresa of Calcutta, said the St. Michael statue is “a great gift to the parish.” He hopes that it will encourage the faithful when saying the St. Michael Prayer after Masses and inspire them to ask for his intercession to defeat evil in the world.

Chris Shannon, a parishioner of 15 years, said she’s long had a special devotion to St. Michael, the leader of God’s heavenly forces and patron saint of soldiers, because of the many men in her family who have served in the U.S. military. That includes her husband, a Vietnam veteran, an uncle who was a bombardier during World War II, and a grandfather who served during World War I.

On hand for the blessing and dedication ceremony were four members of the Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus in addition to Bishop Chylinski, Father Brandt and members of the parish clergy. As the ceremony began, the statue was unshrouded by parishioners.

During the ceremony, Bishop Chylinski called St. Michael “the great intercessor and protector who will lead us closer to our heavenly Father.” He additionally encouraged the faithful “to be mindful of the saints, who are our own brothers and sisters” and our intercessors.

After his blessing, the bishop sprinkled the statue with holy water.

Bishop Chylinski was also the main celebrant and homilist that same evening for the Mass which followed.

During the Liturgy of the Word James Roland, who is in formation for the permanent diaconate, read the first and second readings. Soprano Amy Suznovich served as cantor. Permanent Deacon Lou Hoelzle proclaimed the Gospel passage (Mk. 10:35-45) in which the Apostles James and John ask to sit at the left and right of Jesus in heaven.

In his homily, Bishop Chylinski focused on the sons of Zebedee “get[ting] caught up in the spirit of ambition,” yet “the ways of God are about love, service, humility, and child-like dependence on God,” he said.

Bishop Chylinski also spoke of St. Michael’s many roles in Catholic tradition. In addition to the leader of the angels of God, he’s also the guardian of the Church and the protector who accompanies souls to heaven.

Bishop Chylinski urged the faithful to “invoke St. Michael” so that we can live “forever in heaven.”

All music during the Mass was under the direction of parish music director John Seitz.

The children in attendance that evening received St. Michael medals and a children’s book entitled “St. Michael the Archangel,” written and illustrated by parishioner Mara Bauer.

Bauer, a nurse and mother of two children, said she was inspired to write the children’s book to spread the story of the Archangel, and her book has even been approved by Archbishop Nelson Pérez.

Reflecting on the event, parishioner Kristen Warwick said she sees the statue as “something new and promising” and she feels hopeful that it will provide “a positive light” for her parish family during difficult times.