By Tom Dalton Staff writer SALEM — 3/25/2005
This is the story of a Good Friday journey.
It began last August when a giant crucifix, which stands 17 feet tall and weighs nearly 1,000 pounds, was taken down from the altar of St. Joseph's Church just days after the parish was closed by the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston.
Distraught parishioners, clinging to a cherished symbol of their former parish, wanted to take the crucifix with them to their new church, St. James, which is located on the other side of the downtown.
With the help of St. James parishioners, they placed the crucifix in a truck and carted it across town. Along the way — or, really, as they were taking it down — the church helpers accidentally broke the right arm of the statue of Christ. The arm fell off and shattered at the elbow.
The crucifix made it to St. James and lay for months on a table at the back of the church, for all to see. The broken arm ended up on the kitchen table of Richard Tardiff, a devout and longtime member of St. Joseph's who was as upset as anyone over the damage to the beloved crucifix.
"I'll fix it," said Tardiff, a greeting card illustrator.
For weeks last fall, Tardiff worked at his kitchen table on the arm of a statue of the son of God. He filled it with plaster of Paris, attached forearm and upper arm with wooden dowels and then repaired the damaged section to make it look anatomically correct. He had to mix a half-dozen pigments before the flesh tone was just right.
It was an awesome task.
"I said, 'Dear Lord, help me with this,'" Tardiff said.
The St. Joseph's crucifix, with its repaired arm looking like new, was mounted last week on the wall of St. James Church a short distance from the altar. Everyone says it's the perfect spot.
It's near a statue of St. Joseph.And it's right next to the 14th station of the cross: Jesus being placed in the tomb. There is no 15th station, but the church's new pastor sees the crucifix in that role."When we have the stations for children, we add a 15th station because we want a happy ending — the resurrection," said the Rev. John Sheridan.
"It's perfectly fitting as the 15th station because this is a resurrection story for all of us.
"And maybe it is.
If the closing of St. Joseph's was a death, which to some it was, then maybe the church has been reborn across town.
There is supporting evidence. Not only did the crucifix make the journey to St. James, but the parochial school relocated here along with the St. Joseph's pastor, deacon, secretary and custodian.
For any who have made this journey with them, tonight's Good Friday service could be emotional. Deacon Norman LaPointe, who has guided this crucifix saga, will walk down the center aisle carrying a wooden cross. At a signal, Billy VanLoon, a St. James parishioner who brought the crucifix over in his truck, will lift a violet shroud to unveil the giant statue. And somewhere out in a pew, Tardiff will well up with pride and joy.
And so tonight, on Good Friday, seven months after the story began, the St. Joseph's crucifix will be back home in a new church.
"I can't believe it's done," VanLoon said. "It's been a long journey."
