Prince Of Peace Catholic Church

Designers hope cohesive art, inspirational architecture speak to congregation ...

Noon Sunday to noon Aug. 5 — Eucharist Adoration

3 p.m. Sunday — Cornerstone installation at the new church 

5 p.m. Aug. 4 — Evening for Priest and Religious Sisters

Aug. 5 — Dedication Mass

5 p.m. — Gathering outdoors at the church site 

5:30 p.m. — Mass of Dedication

5 p.m. Aug. 6 — Mass for Prince of Peace Parish

8 a.m., 10:30 a.m. Aug. 7 — Sunday Mass for Prince of Peace Parish

2-5 p.m. Aug. 7 — Open house for the Catholic community of Kearney

5-8 p.m. Aug. 9 — Open house for the entire community of Kearney

11:30 a.m. Aug. 10 — Keenager Mass   

KEARNEY — In less than one week, Prince of Peace parishioners will be home. 

The congregation will trade bleacher seats for brand-new pews at a dedication Mass Aug. 5 for the new church at 2407 W. 56th St. 

The Mass is part of a weeklong series of dedication events, which begins Sunday after the last mass at Kearney Catholic High School. 

While the three-year journey has been long, the church will be worth the wait, according to Randy Milbrath of RDG planning and design.

When the parish chose RDG to design the church, they had little more than a handful of ideas for how they wanted the building to look. 

“When we began working with Prince of Peace, we took them through a process of visual listening,” Milbrath said. “They certainly wanted a space that felt like a church and that felt like a sacred space.” 

As the process continued, RDG used its experience in designing churches coupled with the expertise of liturgical consultant Brother William Woeger to create a church that is “transcendent,” said Milbrath. 

While the church is inspired by Conception Abbey in northwest Missouri, its creators say Prince of Peace is one of a kind. 

Milbrath explained that the building itself is influenced by Romanesque architecture with connections to the state of Nebraska and the history of the Catholic Church. 

“This just feels right. The pieces have come together well and I think people will feel comfortable,” he said. 

One of those pieces is the art. The interior of the church features Beuronese-inspired artwork. Beuronese is an art form founded by Benedictine monks in the late 19th century. 

“The Beuronese is definitely the inspiration for the artwork, and the Beuronese style is influenced by ancient Egyptian art and the relationship between mathematics and art,” said Woeger, who worked directly with a New York studio on the artwork. “All of the furniture and the murals have just a little bit of an exotic edge to them and that’s associated with Beuronese.

LETTER: Mayor Gilbert is a Catholic in name only | Twin City Times

, July 14, 2011).

Week after week Gilbert preaches tolerance and understanding for others’ beliefs in front of any media outlet that will give him face time in an attempt to raise his public stature. But, like every sanctimonious liberal, they occasionally let their guard down and expose their true nasty personality.

Gilbert’s trashing of our Catholic Church, its clergy and the Catholic faithful went well over the line of civility. When one calls themselves a Christian, a Jew or a Muslim, it means they adhere to fundamental beliefs set forth in their religion.

Our Catholic beliefs state that Pope Benedict is Christ’s representative on Earth. Therefore, as Catholics, we believe Benedict is infallible. Gilbert encourages the faithful to question this belief, stating there have been many corrupt popes. Is Gilbert stating that because Pope Benedict does not share Gilbert’s views on gay marriage, he is corrupt?

Going on, Gilbert states, “that the truth from the (Portland) Diocese can be very much suspect.” Translation: Bishop Malone and those working at the Chancery are liars! Gilbert fails, however, to put forth anything to support his claim.

Gilbert’s claim that “no one, not one religious person, including a priest from my Catholic faith, has yet to inform me that God would damn someone to Hell for living out the sexuality that was given to him or her at birth.” During the time leading up to the gay marriage initiative, priests at Prince of Peace Parish laid out the Catholic Church’s belief that this was sinful behavior. This belief also applies to heterosexual couples that cohabitate.

Therefore, if you die in a state of sin, you’re damned. Perhaps if Gilbert had spent time paying attention to the priest’s sermons instead of seeking personal recognition during those Masses, he might have heard what he claims what was not said.

His statement that “I have pledged to give generously” to a fundraising drive is crass and self-serving. It is nothing more than an attempt to raise his public stature. This is what’s known as giving for the wrong reasons.

Lastly, in prior columns Gilbert has referred to God using the term He/She. Our Catholic Church has never referred to God in that vein. Many of us wonder what religious group uses this verbiage. The mystery has been solved! It is how a break-away sect from our Roman Catholic Church, known as “My Catholic Church,” refers to God.

Prince of Peace Catholic Church, dedication, Saturday, August 19, 1978

Militarist Christendom and the Gospel of the Prince of Peace

Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Liturgical Year: The time after Pentecost, v. 1. 1879

The Biblical world