By Deirdre Parker Smith
dp1@salisburypost.com
Sacred Heart Catholic Church will dedicate its new church building today at 10 a.m., come rain, sleet or snow.
The project, which has been in planning since 2000, was built in a year. It includes a new church that seats around 750 people and Sacred Heart Catholic School, housing grades kindergarten-eight, as well as church offices and meeting areas.
Bishop Peter J. Jugis of the Charlotte diocese, once parochial vicar at Sacred Heart, will perform the celebratory Mass. With much solemn ceremony, the church will be baptized and confirmed.
Concelebrants with the bishop with be the Very Rev. John Putnam, church pastor, and the Rev. James A. Ebright, in residence at the church.
Deacons the Rev. Dr. Jim Mazur of Sacred Heart and the Rev. Dr. Brian McNulty are the deacons. The Very Rev. Christopher A. Roux will be master of ceremonies, along with seminary student Paul McNulty.
They will be assisted by a host of seminary students and Sacred Heart servers.
Relics of Saint Thomas Becket and Saint Barnabus will be placed in the altar, a practice dating to the early fourth century. The relics of martyrs Saint Gratian and Saint Fulgentius are already placed in the new high altar and side altars. The bishop will then anoint the altar and 12 points in the church.
Altar candles will be lit, along with 12 dedication crosses.
Near the end of the Mass, Putnam, Project Manager J.R. Dunkley and Building Committee Chairman Mike Vaeth will make remarks.
Sacred Heart’s music ministry, under the direction of Matthew Weaver, will include the choir, handbells, guest musicians, the children’s Latin choir and the Spanish choir.
Regularly scheduled Sunday Masses will take place at the new church from now on.
The Sacred Heart campus is at 375 Lumen Christi Lane, off Jake Alexander Boulevard North, near Isenberg Elementary School.