To the editor:
It’s still a place of peace and quiet even with the new changes within the Abbey Church of Our Lady of the Genesee in Piffard, N.Y. So quiet, you could hear a pin drop.
The new changes are unbelievable. Yes it the same size, but looks twice as big.
The person who redesigned the floor plan did an excellent job. The altar still being the center of the church, (and) we now see to the left the new two-tone celebrant’s chair and the stand with the new wooden crucifix atop, on a rise from the main floor. To the right of the altar is now a pipe organ filling the church with a new sound.
To the west in the aisle between the monks’ seating is the new ambo (lectern) and then on the back wall in the center is the beautiful tabernacle. I was told this was in the first abbey church — what a treasure from the past, to have a place in the new surroundings.
The new look of the railing between the altar and laity seating area is also a new addition.
Also the seating of the retreatants and laity are pews with kneelers, (and) an isle in the center has made it nicer for going to receive Communion.
The new lighting and the grey terrazzo floor makes the church look larger along with all seating for both monks and laity is light-colored wood finish.
The ceremony on April 17, 2015 by the Most Rev. Bishop Salvatore R. Matano of Rochester was a beautiful rededication and blessing of the new church.
The construction workers and abbey personal have done an excellent job to make the church what it looks like today.
May many blessings come to all who enter the abbey church.
Paul E. Schery
Warsaw, N.Y.
