HEBER SPRINGS — With more than 300 people, including Bishop Anthony B. Taylor, eight priests, two deacons and pastors from other denominations in attendance, the parishioners of St. Albert Church in Heber Springs dedicated their new church Saturday, Dec. 19.
The dedication began with a gathering in the former church and was led by the bishop and priests to the new church. Everyone gathered at the door of the church where Ronald Fair, chairman of the development committee, presented the key to the church to the bishop who then in turn presented the key to pastor Father John Agbakwuo. Father Agbakwuo opened the door and the group processed into the church.
During the dedication Mass, Bishop Taylor explained how the Mass would “set apart” the building as not just a worship center, but a church, a house of God. Bishop Taylor blessed the people and the walls of the church with holy water making sure to bless each wall. Then the bishop was presented chrism oil to anoint the altar and bless it. After the oil was spread on the altar, the concelebrating priests used the chrism oil to anoint the stained glass windows. Later the sweet smell of incense spread across the church when Bishop Taylor bathed the room in incense. Finally, the Easter candle was lit as a symbol that the Light of Christ will shine forth from the church — the people and the building.
Also during the dedication, a group of children and adults performed a liturgical dance and Father Agbakwuo, who is from Nigeria, sang a traditional song in his native language.
The pastor has been busy for the past three years. In 2008 he oversaw the dedication of a new worship space for St. James Church in Searcy after becoming the pastor in 2007 following the car wreck of the former pastor, Father Vincent Udo Ogbuji. Later in 2008 construction began on the new St. Albert Church.
Bishop Taylor praised the parishioners for their hard work and devotion, noting in a parish the size of St. Albert it was likely that a person would serve on multiple committees.
“The talents of all community members are utilized when a smaller parish builds a church,” he said.
For St. Albert Church, the parishioners showed their love by making several objects for the new church. Tony Rimkus built the altar and the sound cabinet, and Tom Stanpfill built the ambo, said Myrna Shaw, parish council member and chairwoman of the finance committee.
Construction on the new building began in November 2008, but plans for a new, bigger church began much earlier when members realized the growing congregation had outpaced the room in the old building, Shaw said. The first planning began in 2005.
Shaw, a 20-year member of St. Albert, said the fundraising effort began in 2006 under the combined direction of Shaw and Linda Hollowell. Currently the church has 200 registered families, but it is not unusual for weekend Mass to overflow the church with visitors to nearby Greers Ferry Lake, Shaw said. The new church seats nearly 500 people as compared to only 225 people in the old church.
The church’s contemporary design mixes with the intricate stained glass windows, stained concrete floors, rock wall behind the altar and the striking walnut and wenge altar and walnut ambo.
“The wenge wood is from Africa in honor of our priest,” interior design committee chairwoman Lisa Hackman said.
The stained glass windows were built by Soos Stained Glass in North Little Rock and designed by Maureen McGuire of Arizona, Hackman said. George Hoelzeman, a member of St. Mary Church in St. Vincent, carved the Stations of the Cross.
“We looked at other churches we liked and because of our setting near Greers Ferry Lake wanted to concentrate on finding God in nature. We tried to bring in natural elements through rock and wood,” Hackman said. “The committee had six people, each chosen for their specific talents.”
The new church cost $1.8 million to build, and the parish owes the diocese $470,000, Shaw said.
“We are really excited that we only owe that much,” Shaw said. “We have all worked really hard to make this church a reality.”
Shaw said the focus of the church now is outreach and because of their new space, the growing church community has the room to invite everyone into God’s house.
