St. Margaret Mary Parish Expands Wichita Sanctuary
As I look out among you today, I see a reflection of what I think Heaven will be like,
Bishop Carl A. Kemme told the congregation during his homily at a Saturday evening vigil Mass for the Solemnity of All Saints.
Earlier during that same Mass, the bishop blessed the newly expanded and renovated sanctuary of Wichita’s St. Margaret Mary Parish. When the liturgy concluded, Bishop Kemme ascended on a lift to bless the new bells that now hang in the church’s new bell tower.
Multilingual Liturgy Reflects Parish Diversity
The bishop’s homily followed a Liturgy of the Word that highlighted the parish’s multicultural community. The first reading was proclaimed in Vietnamese, the second in Spanish, and the gospel in English.
Bishop Kemme noted that this multilingual service foreshadows Heaven, which Scripture describes as populated by people from every race and tongue, demonstrating the Church’s unity in Christ. A group of St. Margaret Mary Catholic School third graders, dressed as various saints, returned to their seats after bringing up the gifts during the service.
We come from various walks of life, different cultures and languages,
Bishop Kemme said. We are young and old. We are rich and poor. We are healthy. We are sick. We are God’s people, looking for him, loving him, trying to serve God in this passing world in which we find ourselves.
The bishop emphasized that the cultural assortment at St. Margaret Mary reflects shared discipleship and an eternal destination alongside the rest of Heaven’s assembly. Discussing the saints, he noted that despite their historical and cultural differences, their shared humanity included struggles, temptations, and moments of weakness. What made them saints, he added, was their willingness to let God’s sanctifying grace change them.
Bell Tower Dedication Follows Last-Minute Hurdles
Following the Mass and the bell blessing, St. Margaret Mary Pastor Fr. Ned Blick shared some of the challenges the parish faced leading up to the dedication. Two weeks prior to the event, the parish organ suffered a sudden demise before social media sleuthing successfully uncovered a replacement in Oklahoma City.
Another unexpected moment occurred shortly after the unblessed bells were hung in the tower. As they rang for the first time, a trio of jets practicing for that weekend’s air show flew into view, drawing a heart shape in the sky.
Reflecting on the completion of the project and the bishop’s willingness to ascend the lift for the bell blessing, Fr. Blick offered a lighthearted quip. I used to look up to him, but now I really look up to him,
he said. He really came through.
