350 Attend Two-hour Celebration To Install Father Mott, Dedicate New Altar
Priest Built Altar That Contains Relic of St. Ignatius of Loyola
By Karen Gould

At left: Bishop Alexander Sample (center) of the Diocese of Marquette presided over the Saturday, February 2, Mass at St. Ignatius Loyola Church in St. Ignace as a new altar was dedicated and Fr. Allen Mott was formally installed as pastor. Pictured (from left) are Deacon Scott Jamieson, Deacon Don Olmstead, Bishop Sample, Deacon Tom McClelland, Fr. James Williams, and Fr. Norbert Landreville.

As a light dusting of snow fell over the city Saturday evening, tradition, ceremony, and faith filled St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church during a Mass that included the dedication of a new altar and the formal installation of Father Allen Mott as pastor for the St. Ignace parish and the Immaculate Conception Parish in Moran.

Most Reverend Alexander K. Sample, the 12th Bishop of the Diocese of Marquette, presided over the February 2 Mass attended by 350 parishioners.

In the newly renovated church, a processional marked the beginning of the two-hour celebration with the Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Color Guard lining the center aisle as Bishop Sample, six priests, five deacons, 10 altar servers, and six lay members of the parish, carrying relics of saints, entered the church.

At the request of Fr. Mott, the students and leaders who attended a youth rally in Marquette in January offered two songs to the bishop for his prayers, ministry, and presence. Joining Fr. Mott (left) are (from left, front row) Melissa Brown, Chelsey Chambers, Abby Chambers, Torie Litzner, Devon Chargo, and Lori Luepnitz; (back) Michael Wilk, Mrs. Betty Litzner, Chris Moran, Nick Grogan, Mrs. Theresa France, Dorothy Chargo, and Bryanna Litzner. Larry Boburka (far right) of Marquette played the guitar.

Music from the St. Ignatius Choir and Folk Group and the Immaculate Conception Ensemble wove a thread of continuity among the readings, homily, installation of Fr. Mott, and the dedication of the altar.

Fr. Mott began his ministry here July 2, and last weekend he was formally installed as pastor of both parishes by the bishop. Applause, a standing ovation, and cheers echoed though the church following the brief ceremony.

Deacon Tom McClelland (from left) Fr. Mott, and Bishop Sample watch as Tim Huskey (front, left) and his brother, Tom, insert relics into the aperture of the church's new altar. Clergy standing behind the altar are (from left) Deacon Scott Jamieson, and Deacon Don Thoren, followed by four Masters of Ceremonies including Brandon Orman, Bradley Sjoquist, Greg St. John, and Ryan Ford, then Fr. Ted Brodeur, Fr. Corey Litzner, Fr. Bill Ibach, and Fr. Jim Williams.

"I guess I don't have to ask you if you like him," said Bishop Sample. "You are his first flock as pastor. What a joy."

Offering the homily, the bishop spoke of the responsibilities of the priest and his relationship with parishioners.

"He is your teacher. He teaches in the person of Christ. He is your shepherd. He will be the one whose responsibility it is to lead to you into the kingdom of God," said Bishop Sample. "A pastor is a priest to whom a portion of the people of God have been entrusted to as your shepherd. The priest as pastor and shepherd represents the presence of Christ in your midst."

Fr. Mott then began his ministry by leading the people in the Nicene Creed, a profession of faith.

The first-time pastor, Fr. Mott, who is an accomplished woodworker, built the altar that was dedicated in an elaborate ceremony. The dedication included tipping the altar on its back, encasing the relics of saints permanently under the surface of the altar, and anointing it with sacred oil.

Fr. Mott had earned a commercial builder's license and a degree in construction management from Northern Michigan University before he entered Mundelein Seminary in Illinois. He used no design drawings, prints, or measurements when building the piece.

"It was in my head," Fr. Mott told The St. Ignace News Wednesday, January 30.

When building the altar, said Deacon Tom McClelland, Fr. Mott's intention was to integrate the furniture with the architecture of the building.

"The design of the new altar," he said, "is consistent with the design of the reredos that has been in the church for many years."

Construction began on the altar December 31 with the help of Otto Roggenbuck of Moran. The piece, which was created in Mr. Roggenbuck's shop, was brought to the church Saturday morning. Fr. Mott estimates it weighs between 300 and 500 pounds.

"This is a great honor for me to make this altar," he said. "It allows me to express my love for the people of this parish through a gift God has given me."

A combination of events made it possible for the St. Ignace parish to obtain a first class relic from the body of Saint Ignatius, which was to be sealed in the new altar Saturday.

Brother Jim Boynton, S.J., was told about the church's desire to obtain a relic by his parents, Ollie and Patty Boynton of St. Ignace. Br. Boynton, who is in Rome for a world meeting of Jesuits, was instrumental in obtaining permission from the Jesuit Order for release of a bone fragment of St. Ignatius to Bishop Sample, who also happened to be in Rome at the time on other church business. St. Ignatius of Loyola, who lived from 1491 to 1556, was the founder of the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits).

The St. Ignace parish was founded by Father Marquette and other Jesuits in 1671. The current church building was constructed in 1904 and was dedicated by Bishop Frederick Eis, Fourth Bishop of the Diocese, February 19, 1905.

Catholic tradition, said Deacon McClelland, has called for a relic from a saint to be encased within the altar of a church, although since the 1990s, the church has moved away from this requirement. Relics now, he said, are difficult to acquire.

"We are very fortunate," he said, "to have a relic of St. Ignatius for this altar."

There are three categories of relics. A first class relic is a piece of a saint's body, a second class relic is an article of clothing or personal artifact worn or used by a saint, and a third class relic is an item such as a piece of cloth that touched a first-class relic.

The relic of St. Ignatius was cemented into a marble altar stone. This stone, along with two other stones from earlier altars containing relics of St. Simplicius, were placed inside the new altar. During the ceremony, the altar was tipped on its back, and as parishioners watched, St. Ignace carpenters Tim and Tom Huskey sealed the relics in the altar.

Having the opportunity to celebrate the dedication of an altar, said Deacon McClelland, is unusual for both church leaders and parishioners.

"It is very rare a bishop has a chance to dedicate an altar," he said.

With the relics in place, Bishop Sample then put on an apron to protect his vestments, and he anointed the altar by rubbing the six-foot by 42-inch top with sacred chrism, a consecrated mixture of olive oil and balsam perfume. The Sacristans of both St. Ignatius Parish and Immaculate Conception Parish then wiped the excess oil from the top and covered it with a cloth in preparation for the Celebration of the Eucharist.

Near the end of the Mass, youth of the parish called on the help of parishioners as they offered two songs in appreciation of Bishop Sample. The students had performed the songs at the youth rally in Marquette in January.

Clergy attending the celebration were Rev. Theodore Brodeur of Brimley, Rev. William Ibach of Marquette, Rev. Corey Litzner of Escanaba, formerly of St. Ignace, and retired pastors from St. Ignatius Loyola Rev. Norbert Landreville and Rev. James Williams. Due to illness, Rev. Gilbert Neurohr of Escanaba was unable to attend.

Deacons in attendance were Dr. Scott Jamieson of Marquette, Joseph LaPlante of Brimley, Donald Thoren of Marquette, and Thomas McClelland and Donald Olmstead of St. Ignace.

In December, the St. Ignace church completed the first phase of a two-phase $700,000 renovation project that included installing a new roof, lighting upgrades, carpeting hardwood floors, adding new pews, remodeling the sanctuary, and renovating the stained glass windows. Fr. Mott inherited the project from Fr. Jim Williams, who retired in May. Phase two of the church's renovation work will focus on the basement of the building. Installation of an elevator, remodeling the kitchen, and remodeling the church hall in the basement is planned to begin later this year.

During the next year, Fr. Mott said he will continue his work of building new sanctuary furniture, including an ambo, baptismal font, and presider's chair.