As mentioned on Christmas Day, by God's grace we have been given the opportunity to restore the crucifix original to St. Lawrence, back to our beautiful church. We had this wooden cross lifted up and installed above the sanctuary on Thursday, Dec. 29, the fifth day in the Octave of Christmas.

We are very grateful to all of the people at the chancery of the Diocese of
Harrisburg, the education officials, as well as the priests and our bishop who made this possible. This also would not have been possible without the help of several people in our parish, including Mr. Fred Shibler and many of his family members who did the delicate work of moving, elevating, and securing this crucifix, which at 11-feet tall and 6-feet wide, also weighs several hundred pounds.

Please offer a Hail Mary for all of those who made this possible.

Note the photos below showing the cross how it looks now after its installation, and as it looked in our church a century ago. In honor of this glorious occasion, the choir will sing Vexilla Regis, the hymn from the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14), at the High Mass on Sunday during the Offertory.

Here is a time-lapse video of the work done to raise the cross.