Sacred Heart of Jesus Church to welcome new organ this Sunday
CULLMAN, Ala. – On Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Cullman will officially unveil its new Austin organ during the 9 a.m. Mass, with a blessing by Abbot Marcus Voss of St. Bernard Abbey and a reception to follow. The new instrument replaces a century-old 1921 Austin that suffered an electrical failure in 2022, and features 2,300 pipes, 33 ranks and 67 stops.
Hartford, Connecticut-based Austin Organs, Inc. has been in business since 1899, and has built organs for nearly 500 churches in the southeastern U.S. alone.
The new instrument is part of a larger $730,000 renovation of the church’s choir loft including installation of two new 10-ton air conditioning units to climate control the loft and keep the pipes in tune, along with new wiring, lighting, microphones and other sound equipment. Visitors accustomed to seeing the old loft will be struck by handsome new casings for the pipes.
“This organ has a beautiful voice,” said Sacred Heart Music Director Shelley Hodo. “It has a full, warm sound that can fill the room – and the listener’s soul – with majestic sounds that shout out God’s glory, and it can whisper God’s love in a still, small voice that makes the listener want not to move for fear of disturbing His beauty.
“We are moved to one kind of prayer or another every time it is played, which is exactly what our goal is with our music – to lift hearts and minds to God so they experience His truth and beauty and goodness. Our new organ will be an indispensable element of our worship for decades. Austin has given us an heirloom instrument that we are proud to leave for the generations that will come after us.”
Parish Archivist Mary Hayden Hovater told The Tribune, “I am thrilled that we have been able to archive this piece of history for our Church. And as a former choir member, she (the organ) is a thing of beauty and sounds like the angels. I can’t wait for us to share with the community during the dedication and concert.”
Dedication ceremony set for Feb. 16
Sacred Heart will officially dedicate the organ on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, with a concert at 2 p.m. and reception from 3-5. The concert will feature Bruce E. Ludwig, Jr., organist and music director for the Cathedral of St. Paul in Birmingham, and Austin Organs Senior Design Engineer Floyd Higgins.
Copyright 2025 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
