For Those Who Were, Who Are, Who Will Be

Sacred Heart Church, a local parish in Newburgh, NY, is about to begin the celebration of 100 years of their history. On the 75^th anniversary of their church building, the church assembled items to be placed in a copper chest, a time capsule of sorts, to be buried on the church grounds. Inscribed on a plaque on the top of the time capsule were the words, "For those who were, who are, who will be."

I was there when they exhumed the chest last week and opened it to reveal those items that would be considered timely remnants from 1987. One of the items was a photo of their priest, Father Bill Scafidi, when he still had hair on his head. Who knew at the time that the priest would become a follicle-challenged individual? It garnered chuckles all around.

The other items included a bottle of champagne and a note that read, "For the Sacred Heart parishioners to enjoy." Perhaps the champagne contributor thought that one bottle would be enough '" they should have included an entire case. The congregation has grown considerably in the past 25 years.

There were uniforms from the Catholic school and notes from the children who have since grown into adults with children who attend the school now. There was a gingerbread house with the candy intact although no one was tempted to taste it. Old newspapers rounded out the contents and photographs of the Papal visit of Pope John Paul II to America. Someone even included a Madonna recording of "Who's that Girl?"

I have been wondering what I would place in a time capsule to reflect this portion of my life? There would have to be photographs of my husband and me enjoying one of our many camping adventures. Perhaps a story or two to reflect the thoughts that are nearest and dearest to my heart. Something to illustrate my family's devotion to one another and a snapshot of my parents. I would also put my bible in there because it means so much to me.

Some of these things will change overtime but the bible would remain the same. It is a timeless piece of God's word that stands the test of time, even in a time capsule.

What would you place in your time capsule?

Sources:

http://sacredheart-newburgh.myownparish.com/events.htm

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sacred-Heart-School-Newburgh/208998209995