Our Lady of the Lakes in Spicer-New London closes doors to the past only to open new ones to the future

by Mary Ann Powers

with excerpts from the West Central Tribune, Willmar

The well-used chin-up phrase about new doors being opened in life when others are closed, could surely be applied to the congregation at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church, Spicer-New London, MN.

When final word came that the Minnesota Department of Transportation was going to purchase the rural Spicer church property to widen state Highway 23 to four-lanes, there was a mixture of both grief and excitement within the parish. However, they had no choice but to close the doors to their beloved church building, constructed in 1962. The congregation, which had swelled from about 20 families in the 1960s to a current roster of more than 400 families, held their final service in the old church July 20, 2003. "There were tears," said Sandy Saulsbury, one of the charter members of the young congregation that built the church. The sadness of losing the old church, however, is being replaced with the excitement of moving into a beautiful new church, located on a country road about a half-mile west of Highway 23. Although the highway project forced the church to move, Fr. Fred Fink, pastor at Our Lady of the Lakes, said the buyout of the property by MnDOT came at an opportune time. The old church was landlocked, and after expanding the building three times, there was no more room to build.

The dedication of the newly built church was held on August 3, 2003. Members of Our Lady of the Lakes gathered outside the locked doors of their new church as Bishop John C. Nienstedt began the dedication service. The building was handed over to the bishop as the chief shepherd and steward of the Diocese by the building committee and finance council. The bishop in turn entrusted the care of the church building to Fr. Fred Fink who opened the doors for all to enter.

During the service Bishop Nienstedt first blessed the water in the baptismal font as well as sprinkling the people to remind them of their own baptism. Then he purified the walls and new altar in the life giving water. He anointed the altar and walls with the Holy Chrism to symbolize the church as the image of the heavenly City of Peace. The incensing of the altar followed signifying Christ’s paschal sacrifice which is renewed in each celebration of the Eucharist and to remind us we are each a living temple of the Spirit.

After the altar was blessed Father Fink lit the Easter candle and from it lit the candles on the altar and about the church symbolizing Christ as "a light to enlighten the nations" and His presence in this holy place. The Liturgy of the Eucharist was concelebrated by Bishop Nienstedt, Father Fink and Father Merle Monnens, a visiting priest.

As you look about the church, you see a new church but still familiar things, as many items were moved from the previous church. The tabernacle, the wooden corpus and cross, and stations of the cross and the marble statue of Mother Mary all seem to blend as if this new space had always been intended for them. As you gazed upward at the wood ceiling you were once again reminded of the pine walls that for so many years held it’s parishioners in its protection. The series of carvings representing the seasonal changes of our area through various plants are the background to the eucharistic elements of wheat and grapes which are carved into the wooden legs of the altar. A round stained glass window created by Dietrich Spahn high above the sanctuary reflects the beauty of God in our lake area much like an impressionist painting.

After the conclusion of the service a meal was served to approximately 500 parishioners and visitors in the large white tent on the grounds. In the afternoon the parish hosted an open house for the community. It was a celebration, a conclusion and a beginning for the parishioners of Our Lady of the Lakes.

Mary Ann Powers is a member of Our Lady of the Lakes, Spicer-New London.