CARY – Members of the Catholic community at Mother Teresa Mission gathered Dec. 10 to celebrate Mass and the dedication of their newly-built worship center. Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama presided at the Mass with Father Daniel Oschwald, administrator, and Monsignor John Wall, who formerly led the community, present.
The church began to form more than 20 years ago as a mission of St. Michael Parish in Cary. For two decades they have celebrated Mass in multiple locations, including Bond Park and Green Hope High School.
The new space, which features a ceiling in the shape of a wave and honors both Mary and Mother Teresa with portraits to the left and the right of the tabernacle, is a multi-purpose building that will serve as the gathering space for Mass and, later, become a parish hall. The building also has offices for staff.
Mother Teresa Church isn’t the only church to have a similar beginning with regard to its campus buildings. The community at St. Mary Magdalene in nearby Apex constructed their fellowship space first and held Mass there while they built a church building.
“We will build a church someday, but you’ve got to start somewhere,” said Father Daniel, who has been the administrator of Mother Teresa Mission for the last seven years.
The dedication Mass included a procession into the building, sprinkling of blessed water and presentation of the lectionary. Relics were brought forward and placed beneath the altar, and the altar was anointed and covered, signifying its role as the table of the Lord.
Bishop Luis began his homily with the words “22 Advents,” noting how long people have waited for a worship space of their own. He talked about sitting in the celebrant’s chair and wondering if it fit him well. He joked about the potential that his feet may not touch the floor and worry over whether or not his feet would be in the right place. It was a lesson in giving up control, he said, noting that the people of Mother Teresa could understand the idea of the unknown.
“Now … you have your own place. Your own place. How? Sacrifices made it special … for something great and good,” he said, noting the many practical steps, such as fund raising and permits, required to arrive at the dedication day. “You have a great saint here in the church … for me, she was the face of mercy. Every place she founded was a place where people could feel their dignity and importance. She transformed the lives of people.”
After Mass Father Daniel addressed the congregation and thanked the bishop for his presence and thanked all those who worked to create the space.
He spoke to NC Catholics about the community’s history, including how it has spanned the leadership of three bishops of the Diocese of Raleigh and two popes.
“Many years ago, Bishop [Joseph] Gossman was approached by a Cary city councilor who said, ‘You ought to buy property out where Yates Store Road is.’ What is now Weldon Ridge. There was nothing but tobacco farms out here, but Bishop Gossman listened to that councilor and purchased 44 aces, of which we are now on 22 of those acres,” Father Daniel said.
The grounds are important to longtime member Jean Fuccella, who has been visiting them for years and helped with the construction project. “I’ve known for a long time that if we ever got to this point, this is where we were going to be,” she said. “It’s a beautiful, natural place and we have been able to retain some of the nature.”
Bishop Michael Burbidge helped guide the church to its name, Mother Teresa, in 2016, and Bishop Luis dedicated the worship space and announced that the mission will be become a parish Jan. 1, 2023.
Father Daniel said when he reflects on the building, what stands out is that the community finally has a tabernacle, where the Eucharist is kept. Not having a tabernacle as an anchor point and a center piece, previously, made the community feel a little bit nomadic, he said.
“Think about this. For 22 years, no tabernacle. For 22 years, every time we finished Communion you had to collect the leftover Eucharist, put it in a box and transport it home or to St. Michael,” he said. “And so it was a beautiful gift, from Our Lady of Lourdes and given by one of our parishioners. We were ever so grateful to be able to finally say, this is home.”
Father Daniel added that what’s inside the worship center, including the wood-etching Stations of the Cross, were created for the space by artisans, most of whom were local. “Everything up there comes with a story behind it,” he said.
Longtime member Matthew Young, who helped with the building project and designed the logo, remembers many stories from his years at Mother Teresa, including the time he was the only usher at a Christmas Mass that unexpectedly drew 800 people when about 400 were projected. On the spot, he asked others to help him usher and got to work with tape to help Eucharistic ministers know where to stand to help share Communion.
Stops and starts to the building project and learning to adapt became part of the community’s decades-long story, he said.
“It’s so exciting to see what people have done … what the Holy Spirit has brought about,” said Monsignor Wall. “I am so happy for the people and for Father Dan, he has worked so hard.”
Watch the Dedication Mass and view a photo slideshow.
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