The Clarion Ledger for the Archdiocese of New Orleans has really improved their web site where the paper is available for download (By the way I have fixed the link on the sidebar) One can download the entire paper (and let me say it is downloading so much quicker) or open and view the specific article you wish to see.
There are several interesting article in this edition of the Clarion including a very good one about an Exhibition on the African American or of the Sisters of the Holy Family that is taking place in New Orleans. Lot of history as to this order is in the article and its New Orleans and State Wide contribution!! Go see that here.
However I was very struck by an event that I posted about early last month. The Clarion Ledger has a much bigger story on it.
That is how the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church in Washington State went to great time and expense in giving and installing a new Organ for Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Parish in New Orleans. This of course is a historic Church that bears the name of one America's and New Orleans Saints that is the Recently Beatified, Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos. The Church web site is located here and is very good one.
There was a traffic fire(see web site) that damaged much of this historic Church including the Organ. Our Presbyterian friends from across the nation have helped out.
The story also touches on the deaf community in this Parish where a Organ is of special importance it appears.. A Little fact here about this parish .
During Fr. Seelos' time in New Orleans, the then Archbishop asked of the Redemptorists some assistance in ministering to the many Deaf Catholics of Southern Louisiana. Their community was put under the Patronage of St. Joseph. In the 1970's this community would become the first Deaf Parish in the world. Their name would become St. Gerard Majella Parish for the Deaf!
This Parish for the Deaf was amalgamated into the new parish of Blessed Seelos in 2001, as the St Gerard Community and is the base of the Apostolate for the Deaf for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
The whole article is located at above the link for this weeks edition of the Clarion ledger or you can access directly the page 1 of the article here and page 2 here, There are pictures. In case you can't access PDF files below is the text of the article
Organ reverberates
at Bl. Seelos Church
How do you transport a pipe organ from Seattle, Washington, to New Orleans?
“Very carefully,” said Steve Case, a Mercer Island Presbyterian Church member who drove a newly built organ 2,789 miles to its final destination June 2 – Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos parish in Bywater. “We actually packed it so carefully that nothing shifted on the way here.”
After surviving the six-day, five-night drive, the three ton organ was unloaded in pieces and organized inside the historic church in preparation for installation. The new organ replaces a 1952 Wicks organ that had been destroyed in a 2003 churchfire.
Claps and cheers erupted from volunteers June 4 once the frame of the organ was hoisted up to the organ loft. Then came the fitting of thepipes to exact specificationscalculated by Mercer Island Presbyterian Church member Carl Dodrill. As president of the Pipe Organ Foundation, a nonprofit organization that “believes the pipe organ provides unparalleled opportunities for the uplifting of the human spirit, inspiration, cultural enhancement and worship,” Dodrill guided the placement of the organ pieces. He had completed three previous pipe organ projects and spearheaded this effort to revive organ music at Blessed Seelos.
Dodrill said the challenge this time was to build an organ that could be enjoyed by both hearing and hearing impaired parishioners. The hearing-impaired, who comprise 30 percent of Blessed
Seelos’ parishioners, can Follow the music by feeling, especially with their feet, vibrations
from different-sized pipes. Dodrill obtained the original plans of the former Wicks organ and made adjustments to intensify the tonal vibrations.
Seelos’ parishioners, can Follow the music by feeling, especially with their feet, vibrations
from different-sized pipes. Dodrill obtained the original plans of the former Wicks organ and made adjustments to intensify the tonal vibrations.
“Essentially, the (deaf)people sharpen their skills in other areas, certainly feeling,” Dodrill said. “Feeling becomes a part of the worship service … They are likely to feel more involved in
the worship service because you are talking to them in a language they can understand.”
Sixteen months and 4,000 hours later, the Pipe Organ Foundation and 37 volunteers completely rebuilt an organ for Blessed Seelos.
the worship service because you are talking to them in a language they can understand.”
Sixteen months and 4,000 hours later, the Pipe Organ Foundation and 37 volunteers completely rebuilt an organ for Blessed Seelos.
“We’re updating the organ and making it significantly bigger and adapting it to this group, “Mercer Island Presbyterian Church Pastor DaleSewall said. “Carl created an
organ that has never existed before.” The parts used in the organ came from two 1920s-era Moller organs, Dodrill said, and seven other organs that had been previously donated
to the foundation. The Pipe Organ Foundation spent another $15,000 to $18,000
in new parts. Its value, if it were replaced new, would be approximately $250,000.
“The deaf people can’t wait for it.” This exchange prompted a memory about the heightened
sense of feeling the deaf community has, their contribution to the parish and what it will mean to them to have a new pipe organ. A few years back, the old organ needed tuning, but it wasn’t
the hearing community who noticed.
“The deaf people were first to tell that the first organ was out of tune,” Father Benson said, “because they knew the difference in the vibrations.”
organ that has never existed before.” The parts used in the organ came from two 1920s-era Moller organs, Dodrill said, and seven other organs that had been previously donated
to the foundation. The Pipe Organ Foundation spent another $15,000 to $18,000
in new parts. Its value, if it were replaced new, would be approximately $250,000.
“It’s a more sophisticated organ than they had before,” Dodrill said.H e discovered that Blessed
Seelos had parishioners who were white, black, hearing impaired and Spanish along
with an Irish priest, there was no doubt they had chosen wisely.
Once the center was rebuilt and Sewall returned to Mercer Island, he said he mentioned to Dodrill that Blessed Seelos’ organ had melted in a fire.
This was the impetus behind the Seattle churches’ decision to further assist the historic
church. “These people had needs,” Dodrill said. “There was something unfinished about the project.” As the Pipe Organ Foundation built the custom organ in Seattle, Dodrill had Blessed
Seelos parish complete preliminary work at home. The organ loft, original to the church, was modified to accommodate the larger size and additional pipes of the new organ.
Seelos had parishioners who were white, black, hearing impaired and Spanish along
with an Irish priest, there was no doubt they had chosen wisely.
Once the center was rebuilt and Sewall returned to Mercer Island, he said he mentioned to Dodrill that Blessed Seelos’ organ had melted in a fire.
This was the impetus behind the Seattle churches’ decision to further assist the historic
church. “These people had needs,” Dodrill said. “There was something unfinished about the project.” As the Pipe Organ Foundation built the custom organ in Seattle, Dodrill had Blessed
Seelos parish complete preliminary work at home. The organ loft, original to the church, was modified to accommodate the larger size and additional pipes of the new organ.
“With Carl and a set ofplans, we designed a room they wanted,” Father Joseph Benson, Blessed Seelos’ pastor, said. “A whole wall leading up to the bell tower wasbuilt. This was by far a bigger
and better organ than we had.”When delivery time approached,the three Seattle area
Presbyterian churches raised approximately $6,000 to cover the transportation
costs: the one-way $1,100 van rental, $1,400 in gas and $1,250 in other expenses.
and better organ than we had.”When delivery time approached,the three Seattle area
Presbyterian churches raised approximately $6,000 to cover the transportation
costs: the one-way $1,100 van rental, $1,400 in gas and $1,250 in other expenses.
Volunteers had to provide their airfare to New Orleans, while the Loews New Orleans, through a connection of a congregation member, provided hotel rooms and lunch during their stay.THe Organ will be appreciated The organ donation is eagerly anticipated. Long-time Blessed Seelos parishioner Linda Bryan was among locals helping the Washingtonvolunteers with installation.
She is amazed by the gift. “We were appreciative of the little (old) organ, but this makes it so much more like a church,” Bryan said. Arthine Vicks Powers, a pastoral associate at Blessed Seelos who works with the deaf community as an interpreter, cautioned Father Benson about what to expectonce the first notes from the organ are played at Mass.
“You may have to wait for individuals to put their shoes back on,” she said, laughing, about when deaf parishioners process to the altar for Communion.
“You may have to wait for individuals to put their shoes back on,” she said, laughing, about when deaf parishioners process to the altar for Communion.
“The deaf people can’t wait for it.” This exchange prompted a memory about the heightened
sense of feeling the deaf community has, their contribution to the parish and what it will mean to them to have a new pipe organ. A few years back, the old organ needed tuning, but it wasn’t
the hearing community who noticed.
“The deaf people were first to tell that the first organ was out of tune,” Father Benson said, “because they knew the difference in the vibrations.”
Christine Bordelon can be
reached at cbordelon@clarion
herald.org.
reached at cbordelon@clarion
herald.org.
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