| Issue #2- April 6, 2007 |
10 YEARS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, THE CHURCH OPENS
By Janine Cheviot
Last Saturday, a large crowd gathered in Montauk to witness the Most Reverend William Murphy, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre, dedicate the new St. Therese of Lisieux church and celebrate its first Mass. The old church was closed to the public in 1995 and demolished in 2002.
At about 10:30 a.m., Bishop Murphy emerged from the St. Therese School, followed by clergy, parish trustees, fundraising chairpersons and other members of the Montauk community. A Spanish choir sang and played guitar while an adoring crowd looked on. As the assembly walked up the path that leads to the church, an onlooker called out, “Don’t worry Bishop, the walk back down is much easier.” Bishop Murphy stopped for a moment and laughed. He then pointed at the church and replied, “But there is a much greater joy at the top.” He then made his way up the steps of the church, where a banner hung that read “All Are Welcome.” The architect and general contractors presented him with the plans of the church, and the pastor of St. Therese, Monsignor Peter A. Libasci, unlocked the doors. The crowd cheered. As the people began to enter the Tudor-style church for the first time, a gentleman guiding the crowd said, “It’s so nice to finally have you all here. It was well worth the wait.”
Inside the church doors, the choir sang hymns from a loft above the entrance. The new church is 20,000 square feet and accommodates approximately 530 people, but shortly after the large crowd poured in, the solid oak pews were filled and only standing room was available. The Bishop continued the Rite of Dedication from the beautiful mahogany altar. He blessed the walls of the church and the parishioners, and referred to Montauk as “the promised land.” He reminded us of those who have worshipped here in the past, and foresaw the countless generations that will worship and celebrate here in the future. The diverse crowd listened to prayers in both English and Spanish. It was evident that this solemn occasion was truly joyous for churchgoers. After the ceremony, everyone was invited to attend a reception across the street, catered by Gurney’s Inn.
The construction of St. Therese has been a long struggle. In 1995, church services were moved across the street to the school basement, while plans were developed to restore the unsound structure. Over the years, efforts to upgrade the church weakened, until Monsignor Libasci came to St. Therese in 1999. Along with the Parish Building Committee, he renewed the efforts, and according to him, the church has been “probably one of the most difficult to build because of its location.” The Montauk landmark, which stands on South Essex Street, endures a considerable amount of wind, water and salt exposure due to its proximity to the ocean. After heated debates on whether the old church should be repaired or replaced by a new church, it was decided that a larger new church would be built.
In 2002, the old church was demolished and construction began, until harsh weather almost immediately delayed the project. When construction continued in 2003, cracks were discovered in the church’s foundation, adding an estimated $2 million to the cost. Construction resumed again in 2004, but developments were delayed so that four original trusses from the old church could be used, along with seven new trusses. The complicated setbacks were frustrating for the community and, many times, the fate of the church was unknown. But, more than a decade later, the new St. Therese church represents a mixture of the old and new. The rose window above the front entrance and twenty-four stained glass windows are all from the old church, and the chandeliers that hang inside are replicas of the original ones. The pews and ceiling trusses in the sanctuary area of the church are all from the original St. Therese, and two new side chapels have been added, one of them displaying a small round window depicting Stella Maris, star of the sea, to honor Montauk’s maritime heritage.
During Saturday’s celebration, many parishioners recognized Monsignor Libasci as the driving force behind the new church. The long road to their new house of worship is a symbol of perseverance and an integral part of Montauk history. In a press release from the Diocese of Rockville Centre, Monsignor Libasci was quoted as saying, “Many are awestruck when they’ve seen it. They say they see the old church in the new church’s construction.” On April 3, Pope Benedict XVI named Monsignor Libasci to be a new auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Rockville Centre. It is a great honor for the man, who many say, kept their faith alive.
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