(Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash)
DOYLESTOWN — Whether because it was a “pot of gold” at the end of the rainbow just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, or a dream “fulfilled” for one pastor, a newly-installed pipe organ at St. Patrick Parish in Doylestown was a reason to celebrate.
On Sunday, March 15, the observance of the solemnity of its patron — St. Patrick — a dedication Mass and celebration were held.
Getting the organ
The now-renovated organ was originally part of the chapel at Monroe Clinic Hospital (formerly known as St. Clare Hospital) in Monroe.
Three years ago, after a new hospital building was opened, its new chapel was furnished with a newer organ.
After St. Patrick parishioner Kevin Laufenberg (formerly from Monroe) asked about the old organ, the clinic, through its generosity, donated the organ to the Columbia County parish.
Organ technician Mark Snyder from Music Solutions Wisconsin LLC was asked to relocate the Wicks pipe organ to St. Patrick Church.
It was taken apart pipe-by-pipe with re-leathering, rewiring, and air leaks repaired. Then it was rebuilt for the worship space at St. Patrick.
Dedication Mass
At the Mass on March 15, Pastor Fr. Steve Kortendick welcomed everyone, including guest homilist and celebrant Fr. Michael Klarer, retired former pastor of St. Clare of Assisi Parish in Monroe.
Before the organ was blessed, Father Klarer delivered the homily. He spoke about “connections,” especially those between the Doylestown and Monroe communities.
The first connection was that he and Father Kortendick have been seminary classmates, and later friends for more than 40 years.
Father Klarer then added that he was born at the Monroe hospital, the previous home of the organ. He also served as an orderly there during summers while he was studying at the seminary to become a priest. He also served as the hospital’s chaplain for a time, starting in the early 2000s.
He remarked that the organ now at St. Patrick was first installed in the hospital in 1955, when he was two years old.
Father Klarer said another connection to St. Patrick Parish was that three Sisters, originally from the parish, joined the Sisters of St. Agnes, who operate the hospital in Monroe. Two of them would serve at the hospital.
Some of the Sisters from that order were in attendance at the Mass, as well as doctors from the hospital.
The assembly erupted with applause when Father Klarer’s next presented connection was Father Kortendick’s dream “fulfilled” — “a parish with real bells in the steeple and real pipes in the church.” After he served parishes with either one or the other or neither, Father Kortendick finally had both with the new organ at St. Patrick.
“You have great faith here,” Father Klarer told the St. Patrick parishioners and called the organ a “pot of gold” as a real gift for the parish.
Blessing the organ
Following the homily, Father Kortendick said a prayer of blessing over the organ, and then walked up to the balcony, where the organ is located, to incense it.
This was followed by the “first sounding” of the organ by guest organist Julie Zimmerman, playing “Fantasia on Old Hundredth.”
Zimmerman, from Monroe, was also born at the hospital where the organ originated.
Through the remainder of the Mass, the organ accompanied the music sung by the St. Patrick Parish schola and choir, led by Laufenberg.
Following Mass, Zimmerman performed a short concert on the organ as most of the parishioners stayed in their pews to hear the music.
Father Kortendick introduced the pieces “Suite on the 1st Tone” by Michel Cornette, “Be Thou My Vision” by Hal H. Hopson, and “A Festival Fanfare” by Johann Sebastian Bach.
Following the concert, parishioners and guests were invited to a St. Patrick’s Day lunch in the nearby Otsego Town Hall, featuring corned beef and cabbage.
St. Patrick Parish, linked with St. Jerome Parish in Columbus, is located at N4085 Bruce St. in Doylestown. Mass is celebrated there Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. and Sundays at 9 a.m.