St. Therese to unveil new statue
In conjunction with a year-long celebration of the parish’s 75th anniversary, St. Therese Roman Catholic Church in Uniontown will host a special May crowning on Wednesday at 7 p.m. that features a new sculpture of Mary which will be carried in a procession through the city. “This is the first time that St. Therese has had a procession through town on their own,’ noted the Rev. Ken Zaccagnini, pastor, explaining the church had previously participated in outdoor processions as part of the Italian Festival.
The May crowning service will begin at the church, located at 61 Mill St., when a member of this year’s First Communion class will crown a new sculpture that was hand-carved from linden wood by artisans in Ortisie, Italy.
Called “Blessed Virgin,’ the sculpture shows Mary with her hands clasped in prayer. It stands 5 feet tall and weighs 140 pounds. The sculpture has a delicate color tint finish that includes a coral dress and deep blue-green robe. The garments are trimmed in gold.
The lovely sculpture is a gift to the church from the St. Therese Boosters, who purchased it for $8,200 from the Tonini Church Supply Co. of Louisville, Ky.
Explaining the selection of this particular sculpture, Brenda Sabatini said, “We felt that she was such a human-looking Mary – that you could connect to her.’
Sabatini, who is office manager for St. Therese and recording secretary for the Boosters, explained a smaller sculpture of Mary has been on the church altar since the weekend after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on America. She said the church placed the sculpture there because Mary is the patron saint of the nation.
While the Booster members appreciate this sculpture, it is worn and several of Mary’s fingers are missing.
The Boosters wanted to do something special for the church in this anniversary year and decided to purchase a new sculpture of Mary. After the May crowning, the new sculpture will take a permanent place within the St. Therese niche, located on the left side of the sanctuary near the altar.
“I think she’ll encourage devotion in prayer,’ said Sabatini.
Rev. Zaccagnini said of the gift, “I think it was generous and really shows a sign of the faith they have.’
Wednesday, the public will have a chance to see the sculpture for itself.
The focal point of the May crowning, the sculpture will be placed on the altar at the start of the service. Mary will be crowned by a girl from the First Communion class, while a boy from the class will act as bearer. At about 7:15 p.m., the procession will begin with the sculpture carried through Uniontown.
The route for the procession is as follows: Down Mill Street to Fayette Street to the George Marshall Memorial Plaza. The procession will move around the plaza and then proceed east on Main Street and turn right on Morgantown Street.
The procession will go as far as the parish center, which is located next to the Teamsters’ building and then travel behind the center back to Mill Street and re-enter the church for the closing ceremony, when Mary will be placed in the St. Therese niche.
The procession, which will have a police escort, intends to take place on the city’s sidewalks. It will take in the entire parish along with the Boosters – including present and past members. The choir will lead singing and the altar society will lead recitation of the rosary. In addition, every Catholic parish in southern Fayette County has been invited.
Sabatini said a wine and cheese social will follow in the parish center.
A rain date has been set for Wednesday, May 22, but Rev. Zaccagnini said the procession would only be postponed if it is actually raining.
Officers for St. Therese’s Boosters include: Jim Mari, president; Jim Nuccetelli, vice president; Barry Kovell, treasurer; Brenda Sabatini, recording secretary; Cel Scott, corresponding secretary; and Joan Mitchell, co-chairwoman of the fund-raiser.