Celebrant & Homilist
His Excellency The Most Reverend
Edward K. Braxton, Ph.D., S.T.D.
Bishop of Belleville

  Introductory Rites

The bishop and concelebrating priests, deacons and ministers approach the church doors, where the people are assembled.

At the threshold, representatives of those who have been involved in the building of the church
hand over the building to theBishop, the pastor of the Church of Belleville.
Presentations are made by the following:

Kathy Sjoquist – Building Committee
Charles Dee & Patricia Gerardi– Trustees
Dave Beringer- Architect
Ken Griesemer– Liturgical Consultant
Jerry Rehkemper – Korte Construction Company
Florine Whobrey, Dale Biver, Russell & Patty Thoman

The bishop calls upon the pastor of St. Clare, Reverend James Deiters, to open the doors.

Bishop: "Go within these gates, giving thanks; enter God’s courts with songs of praise!"

The assembly processes into the church while singing "Let Us Go Rejoicing".

Blessing and Sprinkling of Water
The bishop blesses the waters of the font. Through the waters of Baptism we are made members of Christ’s Body;
we become Church. What was done to us in baptism is now done to this building, which stands as a symbol of us.
After the blessing the assembly and the building are sprinkled with these waters.

The bishop blesses the waters of the font. Through the waters of Baptism we are made members of Christ’s Body;we become Church. What was done to us in baptism is now done to this building, which stands as a symbol of us.After the blessing the assembly and the building are sprinkled with these waters.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading:  Nehemiah 8: 1-4a, 5-6, 8-10
Second Reading :  1 Corinthians 3: 9-17
Gospel:  Matthew 5: 13-16

Prayer of Dedication and the Anointings

"Litany of the Saints" is sung.  We call upon the intercession of the Church Triumphant, the saints,
God’s holy ones, to surround us with their prayers. In this sacred liturgy, heaven and earth are wed.

Anointing of the Altar and Walls
Oil is an ancient symbol of healing, of strengthening, of anointing for mission. The anointing of the altar with chrism makes
the altar a symbol of Christ the Anointed One. God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and made him the High Priest of
the New Covenant, so that on the altar of his body he might offer the sacrifice of his life for the salvation of all.

The oil is then taken to anoint the walls of the church in the four directions – north, south, east and west.
The anointing of the church signifies that it is given over entirely for Christian worship.



Incensation of the Altar and the Church
“How Lovely is Your Dwelling Place”  is sung.  Incense has been burned throughout history before the presence of the Divine.
Here incense is placed on the altar to show that Christ’s sacrifice ascends as an odor of sweetness to God,
and to show that our prayers arise pleasing and acceptable as well.

The altar, a symbol of Christ, is incensed. Then the people, who are themselves living temples of God’s Spirit,
and the church building, are incensed. We are bearers of the divine; we are holy. 
After the incensation the altar is prepared and covered with a cloth, handmade by the Poor Clare Nuns of Belleville.
 Flowers are also brought forward.

Lighting of the Altar and the Church
“Christ be Our Light” is sung. The Paschal Candle is lighted and carried to the front of the church.
After a prayer by the bishop, the light of Christ spreads through the assembly.
His brightness illuminates our lives and shines in our hearts, calling us to be signs of truth, hope and healing for the world.

Liturgy of the Eucharist

Our gifts are presented at the altar for local, national and global needs. Among them are donations for the O’Fallon
Food Pantry, letters to our congresspeople, and donations for our sister parish in Guastatoya, Guatemala.



Inauguration of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel

The bishop incenses the Blessed Sacrament and carries it in procession to the Chapel of Reservation.
The Blessed Sacrament is placed in the tabernacle for the first time.
A minister lights the lamp which will burn perpetually before the tabernacle.
The reserved sacrament is there to be taken to the sick and for private prayer and adoration.

Blessing and Dismissal