by Eileen Dever
The vision was a challenge but the goal stood firm. The plans were conceived; the fund-raising campaign continues and the ground-breaking for the new Sacred Heart Church building was celebrated at an outdoor mass a year ago.
This spring the new Sacred Heart church building graces Merrick Avenue. A light, bright, contemporary structure with its cupola ascending to the heavens is in its final stages of construction on the church site. The vision is a reality.
The parish theme “Forward Together in Faith” has drawn the people of Sacred Heart to reflect, reminisce and recognize the strength and faith of their dynamic parish. The years of support and love from their faith community – of blessed times and depressive times – of milestones, and of today’s special family moments, inspired their sacrifices.
Children, families, clergy, friends of the parish painted stones with their names, dates and thoughts for the new beginning of their church. Now this collection is part of the bedrock of the new building buried beneath the flooring in the entrance hall marked with a 24 x 24-inch bronze tile. The words etched on the marker are from Ephesus 2: “In Him you also are being built together a dwelling place of God the Spirit.”
Pavers with names inscripted in memory of loved ones or in honor of parishioners will form the walkway to the new church and prayer gardens.
The architect with Burton Behrendt Smith is Joseph Rettig. Todd Lynch of GII Corporation is the construction manager and Mike Tresco is the owner’s on-site rep. The construction manager sees September as the target date for the completion of the church. Mr. Tresco guided Merrick Life around the muddy site carefully, to see the length and breadth of the building.
The contemporary exterior, sand pebble stucco with red brick below, is balanced with 12 tall windows, 12 square and smaller windows flooding natural light all day into the building. The cupola is the pinnacle of the church sending a simple cross upwards, and soaring above the nave (center aisle) in the interior. Five circular windows span east, west, north and south with one in the interior. The main double door entrance opens into the fellowship area, a rounded arch entrance welcomes all into a spacious, functional building, 11,000 square feet with occupancy of approximately 650.
Two side-door arched entrances lead to the side aisles appearing to form a cross-shape with the center aisle. A back door entrance is adjacent to the staff parking lot.
The circular window over the entrance of the building is stained glass art dedicated to the victims of 9/11. Inspired by Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the World Trade Center site, his blessing and his message of hope, the image of a dove, the Holy Spirit, is dominant.
Victims names, emblems, shields of police and firefighters and of all victims from Sacred Heart with the image of the I beam cross that survived the disaster create a dramatic, reverent work of art, according to designer Paul Coulaz of Durhan Studios. The circular rose window above the altar will be of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the parton saint of the parish, with the traditional prayer to the Sacred Heart: “I put my trust in you.” The design is reminiscent of the alabaster window of St. Peter’s Basilica. The additional circular windows are clear story windows to be designed in the future.
The original stained-glass windows from the old church depicting the Stations of the Cross, designed in 1953, will be installed by the company, Durhan Studios, who created them. Owner Paul Coulaz said the windows were still in perfect condition – crediting the “old business did good work.” They will be placed in the 12 tall windows – six on either side of the building and two at the entrance room. The stained glass was cleaned and re-enforced and slight alterations were made for fit. “They will make a big impact in the church,” says this craftsman.
Side rooms flow from the fellowship area (vestibule) with accommodations for bridal parties and processions, a kitchenette, public rest-rooms, an ushers’ closet and pre-sacristy room. The gathering space is the height of the nave and its sides are a faux colonnade, a series of columns and arches.
The Reconciliation Room, where confessions will be heard, is inside the nave to the left of the main aisle and can be used for other meetings.
The altar centerpiece, the reredos, is the focal point of the main altar featuring a series of rounded arches, and a large classic arch that encompasses the stained glass window and tabernacle. The altar is the original altar and will be placed on marble columns.
Statues of the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph will flank the main altar in niches enriched with diminutive Italian mosaic tiles.
Rich brown oak wainscoting decorates the lower walls of the church with stenciled paintings above. A side ramp will be provided to the altar. The main sacristy is behind the altar with a separate meeting/glass-enclosed cry room at the right of the altar. The baptismal fount, organ and choir will be to the right and left of the altar.
The flooring is light porcelain tile. Track lighting runs across the ceiling.
The new church building faces Merrick Avenue and traffic will flow on the same lanes from Merrick Avenue and Old Mill Road into 233 new parking spots.
The refurbished Sacred Heart statue will be placed near the right side of the church entrance, with inscripted pavers surrounding the shrine. Prayer gardens, one with the St. Francis Fountain, and the other the statue of Mary from the original shrine, will be situated to the left and beyond the main entrance for quiet contemplation.
The Bell Tower was recently installed facing Merrick Avenue.
The old oak trees bordering Merrick Avenue remain. Shrubbery and landscaping will green the 35 feet setback from the street. Much has to be done, although the on-site rep says, “The job is going very well. Everyone cooperates – the subcontractors are a good bunch of guys.”
Ann Engelhart, a member of the parish Ambience Committee, said, “The building is contemporary yet has influences from the past. Through the use of classic elements – arches, columns, materials, the new building reflects what the Church is – a living, growing faith with roots in the ancient Church.”
Bells will be ringing
The 105-year-old bells are back and will be tolling for the opening of the new Sacred Heart Church. The bell tower was dismantled, stored and refurbished by Verdin Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, while the construction of the church went on.
The rich patina of the cast bronze restored the bells that were cast in the early 1900s. On the odd sunny day in early June the bell tower was transported on a 40-foot-long flat-bed truck from Cincinnati to a site next to the newly constructed church in North Merrick.
When the driver, Earl Deyo of American Merchants Corp., made the wide turn onto Merrick Avenue from Sunrise Highway, after a long day’s trip, a parishioner driving by recognized the precious cargo and led the way to the tower’s final site.
The bells came to Sacred Heart in 1983 when the deceased pastor, Father Harold Langley, secured them. Originally, their home was a parish in Brooklyn, St. Leonard’s in Port Maurice, that was closed. The largest bell weighs 2,100 pounds and sounds the note F#. The bells welcome all to prayer. “For whom the bell tolls – it tolls for thee.”