WESTON—The rededication of St. Francis of Assisi Parish was a day of great joy and new beginnings for Weston’s Catholic community.
Bishop Frank J. Caggiano consecrated the church during a liturgy in which he issued a “spiritual challenge,” asking those in attendance to help rebuild the Church by responding to the call for evangelization.
“You have recreated a sacred space, which we can say joyfully is one of beauty, dignity and welcome—a place where you and those who come after you will be able to encounter the Lord in deep and profound ways,” Bishop Caggiano told the 200 parishioners and clergy attending Mass in the renovated church on April 22.
The bishop thanked Father Augustine Nguyen, pastor of St. Francis, for his leadership and hard work, then led all in applause.
“I am grateful to you for taking on this project,” he said. “You did it with joy—always keeping your mind on making it a beautiful place to honor and worship the Lord.”
“The renovation of the church was really one of the greatest blessings and highlights of my priesthood,” Father Nguyen said. “We would not have been able to do it without the support and the generosity of our parishioners.”
Renovation began several years ago with the parish’s capital campaign that identified a major overhaul of the church’s interior as a top priority. Mike Byrnes, trustee and Finance Council member, said it was the first major renovation since the church was dedicated in 1959.
Up until that time, Catholics in Weston attended Mass at Cobb’s Mill Inn. After Bishop Lawrence Shehan announced formation of a parish, fundraising began and, finally, in 1959, Weston had a church of its own. Growth was a journey with the rectory built a decade later. Then, in the late 1990s, an ambitious building program added a parish center and preschool. But the church’s interior remained untouched.
“Renovation was necessary because the church needed to be refreshed,” Byrnes said. Major problems existed with the heating system, which often shut down on cold winter mornings. Asbestos floor tiles were coming loose. Most important, the altar needed to be elevated to improve visibility from the pews.
Construction began in July 2022 under the guidance of Patrick Gallagher, an architect and parishioner, who dedicated his own time to the project.
“The first steps were to completely clear the church of the 1950’s asbestos floor tiles and the decades-old carpeting from the sanctuary,” Byrnes said.
The walls were painted a warm white, a new sound system and lighting upgrades were added. A beautiful white terrazzo floor was installed.
“The altar, the heart of our church, was redesigned with a marble floor around it,” he said.
To allow for the expanded altar, the music area was relocated from the sanctuary to the choir loft. Confessionals were also added.
The architect noted that the challenge of reconstructing the altar was a matter of personal interest because it called for a careful reworking around the previously embedded relic of St. Francis.
“As a longtime parishioner, I am so pleased to see the great care and attention given to this renovation,” said Trustee Elise Major. “It both honors the character and spirit of our church, while making necessary updates that will enhance the interior for years to come. We are indebted to Father Augustine for his leadership and to Patrick Gallagher for his commitment. The result is a beautiful, timeless place of worship for our entire parish family.”
Bishop Caggiano celebrated the Mass with Father Nguyen; Father Joseph Sidera, priest in residence; Father Frank Hoffman, Vicar of Clergy; and Father Reginald Norman, Dean and pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Wilton. Deacons Steve Hodson and Thomas McManus assisted.
The Rites of Rededication included the Litany of Saints, the anointing of the altar and walls of the church by Bishop Caggiano and Father Nguyen, incensation of the altar and the church, and the lighting of the altar and the church. In a moving part of the rites, the bishop removed his outer vestments and donned an apron. He poured holy chrism oil at the altar’s four corners and in its middle and then, by hand, rubbed oil into every inch.
In his homily, Bishop Caggiano referred to St. Francis answering God’s call. One day, while praying at the church of San Damiano, St. Francis heard Jesus speak from the crucifix: “Go, rebuild my church which is falling down.” Francis thought God wanted him to physically rebuild the collapsing building, so he started repairing the structure. But, as the bishop related, Francis discovered God wanted him to rebuild “a church more important—a church made of living bricks by those who formed the Mystical Body of Christ.” Likening this to the current rededication, he urged parishioners to rebuild God’s Church.
“Half our work is done,” he said. “We must be about rebuilding the living Church—the living bricks—which are not just ourselves, but those who no longer come to church. Those living bricks are you and me. We wish to invite others to this beautiful church. How do we do that? By spending time, not in judgement, but in friendship, and answering their questions, as Christ did on the road to Emmaus—and then when they are ready, inviting them here, where they can begin their journey to eternal life.”
For those at the rededication, it was a magnificent and moving celebration of the renewal of St. Francis of Assisi Church.
“The Rites of Rededication were a once in a lifetime experience for me and many others,” said Father Nguyen. “The Mass was absolutely beautiful, especially with its uplifting music led by Don Rickenback, music director.”