Bishop William F. Medley anoints the new altar with Sacred Chrism at Blessed Mother Parish in Owensboro on April 11. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
‘Refreshed by the divine banquet’
Bishop celebrates altar dedications in two parishes
BY WKC STAFF
On April 11, Bishop William F. Medley celebrated two altar dedications at two different parishes, on nearly opposite ends of the Diocese of Owensboro’s geographic region.
That morning, he consecrated the new altar in the recently-renovated interior of Blessed Mother Parish in Owensboro. And in the evening, he visited St. Mary Parish in Franklin to consecrate their new altar, which had been made by a parishioner.
Altar dedications include blessing of water at the start of the liturgy, during which the bishop sprinkles both the people and the new altar with holy water. Much of the Mass is similar to a typical liturgy, with the Liturgy of the Word following the Gloria.
However, after the Profession of Faith, the church sings the Litany of the Saints and then the bishop offers the lengthy Prayer of Dedication, during which he thanks God for fulfilling his promises and asks that the new altar be dedicated “for all time by the sacrifice of Christ, and stand as the Lord’s table where your people are refreshed by the divine banquet.”
After this prayer concludes, the bishop anoints the altar with Sacred Chrism – which in this case, had just recently been consecrated during the diocese’s March 31 Chrism Mass during Holy Week. The bishop then incenses the altar, and parishioners clean excess Chrism off of the consecrated altar. The altar is then vested with an altar cloth and candles are lit and placed around the altar.
Fr. Tom Buckman, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Franklin, incenses the altar and the congregation during the April 11 altar dedication. COURTESY OF HEATHER GREENE
Fr. Brandon Williams, pastor of Blessed Mother Parish in Owensboro, smiles with Cyndi Vaughan, parish office assistant, before the Mass of altar dedication begins on April 11. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Bishop William F. Medley pours Sacred Chrism on the new altar at St. Mary Parish in Franklin on April 11. COURTESY OF HEATHER GREENE
Originally printed in the May 2026 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
