The good news of Jesus’ resurrection was groundbreaking. The Apostles and first generation disciples carried this news out into the world and made the Church a groundbreaking movement. They led with acts of mercy, healing, and preached a message of redemption from sin and life-change. Most of all, they made disciples.
That’s what this weekend at Nativity is about, like every weekend we hope: making disciples. But this weekend is a little special. We are literally breaking ground.
If you’re a friend or follower of this blog, here’s your sneak peak into our next two Sundays Groundbreaking events. It’s a two-part blog because this week is all about what’s happening this Sunday at our formal groundbreaking ceremony with the Archbishop, and next week will be all about our huge weekend-long groundbreaking celebration. Stay tuned for that.
Here’s what’s happening this Sunday. It’s a two-part ceremony. At our 12 Noon Mass, our parish will welcome the Most Rev. William Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore, who will preside over the Mass and deliver the homily. During the closing hymn, Archbishop Lori will lead a procession out of our church sanctuary and building, around the front of the building, to the gravel lot next to the church. Parishioners are then invited to follow behind. At that spot, there will be a tent set up (symbolically located on top of the site of the future altar), where the Archbishop will lead those gathered in a blessing of the new building site taken from the “Rite of Dedication of a Church.” There will be a few prayers, a short scripture reading, and ceremonial sprinkling with holy water and then putting the first shovel in the ground and turning the soil.
A few logistics to note.
For those planning to attend at Noon, our normal seating arrangements will not be affected- kids programs will still run, and video venues are still open. (Although, it will be the last weekend you will have the chance to sit in the chapel venue before that is closed permanently for construction.) Due to our outdoor tent and standing room for the Groundbreaking Rite, there will not be available parking in the gravel lot. Just another opportunity to use our shuttle service from the Timonium Light Rail lot, which will only become more helpful and convenient as construction gets underway.
That’s about it for this week. To say we’re excited is an understatement. So many hearts, hands, and minds have gone into this project. To learn more about our building project and Vision campaign, visit our webpage.
