St Therese of Lisieux Shrine Dedicated at the Jesus Christ Prince of Peace Chapel
"I knew it would happen in time for her feast day" said Fr. Lou Scurti, Catholic Campus Minister at the Jesus Christ Prince of Peace Chapel, serving the William Paterson University community. Even though on Friday, September 29 the contractors and movers told him to change the date of the Dedication of the Shrine to St. Therese, Fr. Lou went ahead with the plans.
"When Joe Lozito, owner of DeLuccia-Lozito funeral home, who was assisting us with the move of the statue from the basement boiler room of St. Paul's church in Clifton, was sure he and his friends could not budge the 2000 pound statue for more than twelve feet, he started to call in reinforcements." Among those whom he call was Les Christopher, of Paterson Monuments. Les showed up with a professional crew of four men who not only budged the statue, but also carried it up the three flights of stairs into the parking lot where a crane lifted it on to their truck. "As we drove through downtown Paterson, passing the Cathedral, I said a prayer of thanks to St. Therese, and realized that day was the day she died, September 30, 1897 �it was like a glorious funeral procession of the statue to a place of honor in the garden of the Chapel". Said Fr. Scurti.
Fr. Lou at Mass shared the story of the statue coming to the Jesus Christ Prince of Peace Chapel on Sunday, celebrating the event with students, parents and benefactors of the shrine. About five years ago he met Nancy Osgoodby, a Clinical Social Worker at a mental health clinic where Fr. Lou was doing his Internship as a Marriage & Family Therapist. They became friends, and he was impressed with her strong devotion to St. Therese of the Little Flower. She would often tell stories that witnessed to her devotion, always involving St. Therese and a rose, a symbol of prayers being heard.
When the Jesus Christ Prince of Peace Chapel was dedicated on September 1, 1999, Nancy requested that a statue of St. Therese be erected. She wanted to be the benefactor. Hesitating to grant that request, because it would not fit into the design of the chapel, Fr. Lou indicated that he would look around for a suitable statue, perhaps for the garden. The search began. In stepped Moses, of North Haledon, NJ. Moses had become acquainted with Fr. Lou and the Chapel during the initial stages of its construction. He deals with refurbished religious articles, and has been featured in the diocesan paper, the Beacon. He indicated that he knew the whereabouts of a statue of St. Therese that was not being used. But in storage, St. Paul's Clifton. Fr. Lou called the pastor, Fr. Vic Mazza, who was Fr. Lou's supervisor when he served as a deacon at St. Margaret's Morristown. Fr. Mazza showed Fr. Lou the statue and said: "you can have it, if you can move it." It had been in storage for at least 20 years and was black with dirt. That was May, 2000.
As soon as Fr. Lou had the approval of the pastor, he contacted Nancy to tell her that a statue had been located. He was impressed with it's beauty, Italian carved marble, but was concerned with its weight. He then contacted Joe Lozito through whose intervention the granite altar and furnishings were brought from the former Neumann Prep Chapel storage to its present location, the Jesus Christ Prince of Peace Chapel. Joe planned to see the statue. Then Fr. Lou contacted Joe De Vita. Of De Vita Construction, Paterson, the chapel contractor, to begin building a base that would match the stone of the Chapel. The dedication was planned for October 1, 2000 at the 10:45 am Mass. The invitations went out to benefactors who had expressed an interest in the Shrine. They were made aware of the plans from the Catholic Campus Ministry's web page: www.geocities.com/princeofpeace_07508 and were looking forward to the dedication.
With plenty of time, the pedestal was erected, the gardens landscaped and prepared and everything sat in waiting. The delays then started. The initial mover would eventually get to see the statue, he suggested more assistance would be needed. More assistance was gathered; still no progress. The mover indicated that he would transfer the statue, but could not promise to get it up the stairs safely. Now time had passed; Fr. Lou was put on notice that it may not happen. More assistance was gathered, more suggestions yet no move. Until September 30, when it all came together.
The garden had been prepared with mums and other flowers, because the landscaper could not locate rose bushes. While the statue sat in the basement on September 29, Fr. Lou went to shop for cleaning supplies to wash the statue. While he was in the market, he noticed a sale on the last of flowering bushes. There were three white ground cover rose bushes. He purchased them. Prior to that he had just returned from a memorial service offered at the North Jersey Developmental Center, Totowa, where he serves as Chaplain. "Walking up the path to Meese building I look down and noticed that there were rose branches laying along the path; the path was lined with rose bushes and had been pruned. I have been chaplain there for twenty years and never noticed that the path was lined with roses. I picked some branches to root them, the way my grandmother Rosalia, showed me". Roses started to be everywhere.
Afterwards, Fr. Lou went to purchase a bench that a benefactor requested. The only one left in the garden center where he shopped was cast iron, decorated with roses. He purchased it. Then came the move. It processed through Clifton and Paterson on the anniversary of the death of St. Therese, and erected on the pedestal that sat vacant for three months.
After a long day in the Clifton and Paterson area, Fr. Lou went to dinner with his associate, Jerry Reynolds and afterwards went to a local food market to shop. As he was walking through, Jerry warned him to be aware that a cart was being pushed by near him. The cart was loaded with dozens of roses. "At that point I said to Jerry: 'I think she is happy with the new location of her statue."
And so at the 10:45 a.m. Mass the statue was uncovered and dedicated. "Years ago I jokingly said to Bishop Rodimer that campus ministry is like missionary work; now we have the statue of patroness of the missions smiling upon our students and visitors to our chapel". Visitors may come to the Chapel located at 219 Pompton Road, Haledon, NJ or call (973) 720 3524 for further information.
During the homily Fr. Lou shared aspects of the life and spirituality with the congregation. "It will me my challenge to continue to share the story of the life of St. Therese with all who attend our chapel". A memorial book was placed into the chapel with the names of all benefactors.
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973 720 3524 for further information!