A new altar for St. Bernadette’s in Cedartown has been made around the face of an old one.

For the 50th anniversary celebration in the parish, members wanted to see if they could resurrect the altar from the original church constructed in 1941. Made of marble from Tate, Georgia, the altar had been affixed to the back of the wall of the church but was dismantled to allow for the celebration of Mass with the priest facing the congregation. Only the face of the old altar remained because it had been used as part of an altar of repose for the Blessed Sacrament.

Lucky for the pastor Father Daniel Stack that his brother, Jim Stack, is in the marble and granite fabricating business. Although he specializes in residential cabinet tops and bathroom treatments, Jim Stack was willing to tackle the project for St. Bernadette’s.

The original piece of altar marble was removed for cleaning. A trip to the quarry in Tate followed to select a slab from which to construct the top and sides of the new altar. In a week Stack and helper Eddie Zwirko, a Polish Catholic immigrant, had made the necessary pieces, joined and polished them.

On September 19, the regular parish work team of Ed Lindsey and Joe Bathaney removed the interim altar. Father Stack was a very nervous pastor as he viewed the empty space, asking himself, “What if the new altar doesn’t arrive? What if there is an accident? Where does one borrow an altar?” At 6 p.m. on the dot and according to his word, brother Jim brought the new-old altar, and with the help of José Luís Guzmán put it in place piece by piece.

Mrs. Vera Owens, a longtime member of the parish, said seeing the original face of the altar brought back memories of what had first drawn her to the parish and the Catholic faith more than 30 years ago.

When Archbishop James P. Lyke, OFM, visited September 22, he consecrated the altar and confirmed eight young parishioners, officially beginning St. Bernadette’s weeklong celebration of 50 years as a parish.