Trinity Heights holds Prayer and Celebration Day

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
June 28, 2007

For 16 years now Trinity Heights in Sioux City has held an annual Prayer and Celebration Day. This year's celebration was held on June 24. It featured a 3 p.m. blessing of the new Moses sculpture on the grounds of Trinity Heights and, as with previous years, a 5:30 p.m. banquet at the Sioux City Convention Center.

In opening comments during the blessing service, Bishop R. Walker Nickless said, "My brothers and sisters, as we begin to celebrate this rite in praise of God on the occasion of the unveiling of this beautiful new image of Moses for public veneration, we must be properly disposed and have a clear appreciation of the meaning of this celebration."

He pointed out that when the church blesses a picture or statue, presenting it for public veneration by the faithful, it does so for a reason. People can look at the representation of those who have followed Christ faithfully so they may be motivated to seek heaven and they will learn the way that enables them to attain complete union with Christ.

"We gather today to bless, in our Catholic tradition, this statue of Moses. The blessing reminds us that this special has a special purpose - to turn our minds and hearts toward God," said Bishop Nickless.

Following Scripture readings by members of Trinity Heights spiritual committee, the bishop offered some reflections.

"Today we gather on a feast day dedicated to St. John the Baptist and we ask God to bless this statue of Moses - the great lawgiver of the Old Testament. St. John the Baptist was the last of the really great Old Testament figures and he moves us into the New Testament, pointing the way to Jesus Christ, the supreme lawgiver, Lord and savior of the world," said the bishop.

Moses, noted the bishop, was one of the first great Old Testament figures. Referring to a Scripture passage from Sirach, he mentioned that Moses was a man dear to God.

"A reading from the Book of Exodus shares with us the 10 Commandments - God's gift to his chosen people and God's gift to us," said Bishop Nickless, who added that those commandments are relevant more than ever because they ground people in God's plan for salvation.

He referred to the commandments as signposts leading the people to God.

The bishop then invited Dale Lamphere, the artist that created the 7-and-one-half foot Moses statue, to offer a few words.

The artist said that what he wanted to capture in the sculpture was "that moment - the time after Moses had seen the Lord. There must have been a tremendous illumination, sort of an inner light, coming out of him. It has been a great privilege to work on this piece and all of the other ones." Lamphere created other statues for Trinity Heights such as the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Immaculate Heart of Mary and more.

At the banquet, Beanie Cooper, the executive director of Trinity Heights, served as the master of ceremonies.

The bishop offered the invocation prior to the meal.

The program for the evening included recognition of volunteers Cecil and Catherine Neiman and musical entertainment by the Siouxland Barber Shop Chorus.

A presentation by Trinity Heights' new chaplain, Father LeRoy Seuntjens, was titled The Real Presence. He started his talk by pointing out the Blessed Mother's role in the Eucharist.

"She is the one who gave humanity to the Son of God so she has to be related to the Eucharist," he said. The priest stressed the fact that the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist is the same body and blood that she brought into the world at Christmas time.

Father Seuntjens recounted the story of the Last Supper and Jesus words, "This is my body. This is my blood." Christ told the people to, "Do this in memory of me."

The priest reminded the people that Jesus "didn't say pretend it's my body or let this symbolize my blood."

He spoke of a trip he took three years ago to Guadalajara, Mexico to attend the 48th International Eucharistic Congress. Father Seuntjens, who will retire in mid-July, found that to be one of the highlights of his priesthood. The next international gathering will be held June 15-22, 2008, in Quebec. He said if others wished to attend that gathering with him, they could organize a bus or caravan.

Through his work at Trinity Heights, he said he hopes to raise awareness about the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist as well as about the value of eucharistic adoration.

Cooper gave a progress report on the development. He mentioned that six of the 12 senior housing units have been taken.

He also pointed out that the Way of the Saints would be complete when they place the statue of St. John the Baptist later this year.

On display at the convention center were about 24 of the 126 display boards featuring Vatican approved miracles relating to the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Cooper noted that they plan to rotate the display in the St. Joseph Center and eventually it would find a home in the new conference building that will also house the office space.

In addition they plan to work with the diocese, the Serra Club and Knights of Columbus so that the display or portions of it could make its way to parishes and Catholic schools.

Terry Moran, who runs the gift shop at Trinity Heights, offered benediction.