OUR ALTAR STONES
Part of our mission statement here at St. Joseph's Apprentice is to put as many altar stones back into the service of Our
Lord as we can. This remains our goal and we have been very successful. Of the 800 + altars I have built thus far,
probably 90% have altar stones. Many of these stones are from the basements of churches or backrooms in rectories.
Most altar stones were removed from the altars when the many changes came about with the Sacrifice of the Mass in
the 1960's. The altars, instead of representing a place of sacrifice, became more like a banquet table. Because it was so hard
to find suitable altar stones, with much discussion and encouragement of several priests, I started making simple altar
stones with empty sepulchers. These altar stones are not consecrated, so a priest will either have to get permission
from his Diocesan Offices (Bishop) to consecrate his own stone, or he will have to ask his Bishop to consecrate it
himself. I am also willing to sell my altar stones to those priests who only want a stone, not a complete altar.
Recently, we were given a great opportunity for Cardinal Burke to consecrate fourteen of my altar stones. The relics placed at that
time were of St. Agatha, St. Peter of Verona, and St. Gereon - a Roman Soldier/Martyr. We no longer have any of those altar stones
available, but are most grateful to Cardinal Burke for making this happen.