FOLLOWING MONTHS OF RENOVATIONS, including construction of a marble altar and installation of a sacred tabernacle, St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Los Alamitos marked a milestone recently with a special Mass of rededication of the altar celebrated by Bishop Timothy Freyer. During the Mass, Bishop Freyer also blessed other sacred furnishings.
The sanctuary elements had been completed for several months, but the parish waited for the bishop’s visit on April 19 to formally celebrate the completed project with the Mass of rededication of the altar and blessing of the tabernacle, an occasion St. Hedwig’s pastor Fr. Quan Tran described as both a liturgical moment and a sign of the
parish’s unity with the wider Church.
CRAFTED FROM WHITE CARRARA MARBLE IMPORTED FROM ITALY, THE NEW ALTAR WAS CHOSEN FOR ITS BEAUTY, DIGNITY AND PERMANENCE, DESIGNED IN HARMONY WITH ST. HEDWIG’S NEW TABERNACLE AND SANCTUARY AS A WHOLE. PHOTO BY KAYLEE TOOLE/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
“The altar is an altar of sacrifice,” Bishop Freyer said during his homily. “The altar is a place where we offer to God the unbloody sacrifice of Christ.”
As part of the official rite described by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Freyer sprinkled holy water on the altar and the other celebrants around the altar. The bishop poured sacred chrism (consecrated mixture of olive oil and balsam) on the altar, then anointed the entire altar by hand.
Crafted from white Carrara marble imported from Italy, the renovated altar was chosen for its beauty, dignity and permanence, and designed in harmony with the sanctuary’s new tabernacle and the space as a whole.
“The beautiful renovations to our church, including the tabernacle and altar, deepen our parish’s sense of awe at God’s glory and renew our awareness of Christ’s real presence in our church,” said Fr. Tran. “It invites the faithful into deeper reverence and devotion.”
Named Porta Coeli, Latin for “Gate of Heaven,” the tabernacle is meant to visibly remind Catholics of Christ’s true presence in the Blessed Sacrament. A strong thread of symbolism runs through the tabernacle and altar. The Paschal Lamb depicted on the front of the altar is also shown within the tabernacle, where the same image appears on the interior of its door, highlighting the unity between Christ’s sacrifice and His abiding presence in the Blessed Sacrament.
On the central door is an image of the Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus, recalling that Christ first dwelt within her womb and that she continues to lead the faithful to Him. In keeping with tradition, the altar contains a first-class relic of St. Vincent de Paul.
“It reminds us that the sacrifice of Christ, made present in the Eucharist, is united with the witness of the saints,” said Fr. Tran.
Together, the altar and tabernacle are intended to heighten awareness of the communion of Heaven and earth made manifest in every Mass, Fr. Tran shared, calling to mind the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels and the saints who join the faithful in worship.
Fr. Tran conferred with Enzo Selvaggi of Heritage Liturgical on the new tabernacle, the same firm that designed St. Hedwig’s existing crucifix. From the beginning, the intention was not simply to create something beautiful, but to offer something truly worthy of the Lord, “something that reflects, in its very form, the profound mystery it contains — Jesus Christ present in the Most Holy Eucharist,” said Fr. Tran.
The same Carrara marble used for the altar was also used in the tabernacle and ambo, intentionally selected to complement the existing marble along the reredos wall and create a sense of visual and material unity throughout the sanctuary. When plans for the tabernacle and altar began more than four years ago, the project was approached not simply as construction, but as prayerful discernment. When renovations began in June 2025, all Masses and worship services were held in Quinn Hall. Parishioners donated to support the work, and staff and volunteers prepared for the church’s reopening.
The church reopened Dec. 20, in time to celebrate Christmas Mass in the renewed space. The generosity of parishioners has been a constant source of blessing, Fr. Tran said.
“Every gift is received with gratitude and a commitment to steward resources responsibly in a way that honors donors’ intentions,” he added. “In the end, the project stands not only as a testament to craftsmanship, but as a visible sign of a faithful and generous community. Their generosity reflects a deep love for the Eucharist and a desire to offer something truly worthy of the Lord.”