New altar consecrated at St. Charles Apache Mission Church

By Carissa Krautscheid 

“You’re only limited by your imagination,” quoted wood worker, Mark Heisler, shortly after he witnessed the consecration of the new altar he crafted for St. Charles Apache Mission Church in San Carlos, AZ. 

“The word ‘consecrate’ means ‘to set apart,’” said Bishop Edward Weisenburger, who joined the community on November 7, 2023, for the special occasion. “Within religion, ‘consecrate’ means ‘to set apart exclusively for God.’ In the same way, once this altar is consecrated, it is set apart exclusively for God. It becomes one of the most essential, sacred parts of our church. The most important part of the Mass happens on the Altar.” 

At the heart of the celebration of Mass, Bishop Weisenburger consecrated the new altar by pouring chrism oil across the altar’s entire surface. He explained, “This is the same chrism oil that bishops consecrate for baptisms, ordinations, and confirmations – all of which can only happen once. The only time chrism oil does not go on our person is when it goes on the altar; that’s how sacred this piece of furniture becomes for us.” 

The red oak altar and ambo hearken to Catholic cathedrals throughout history with their pointed arches and slender pillars. 

Surprisingly, this design was the carpenter’s last choice. “It was the hardest to make,” explained Heisler, a retired medical doctor who has been cultivating a hobby of wood-working for many years. Specializing in wood turning, Heisler turned all 12 circular pedestals for the altar and engineered a way to keep the altar sturdy and strong, despite its delicate design. Heisler worked on the altar for four months and on the ambo for two months. 

When he heard that the church in San Carlos needed a new altar, Heisler was delighted to use his gifts to benefit the Church. As a former designer, his wife, Kathy, helped to plan and select ideas for the altar and ambo. They provided Fr. John Paul Shea, the pastor at the time, with 50 different examples of altars. “He took six weeks to respond,” Heisler laughed, “I thought maybe he changed his mind, but he had just taken it to the parishioners for their perspective. This is the design they chose.”  

The lumber was generously donated by the Kim family. Chul and Jung Kim are well-known at St. Charles because they lived in San Carlos for many years while Dr. Chul Kim, a physician, was working at the hospital there. Even after moving to Carefree, Arizona, the Kim family has continued collaborating with St. Charles. The Kims and the Heislers are parishioners of Our Lady of Joy in Carefree, northeast of Phoenix. A parish that has been providing Christmas gifts to the school children at St. Charles for more than 20 years.  

Several parishioners from Our Lady of Joy made the three-hour drive to San Carlos for the consecration of the altar. Also in attendance were students from St. Charles Apache Mission School; principal Lorraine Reves; current pastor, Fr. Madhu George; former pastor, Fr. John Paul Shea; and fellow vicariate priests, Fr. Albert Miranda and Fr. Bala Kommathoti. 

Bishop Weisenburger thanked the Kims for their generosity and Heisler for his creativity, “Thank you for your wonderful work here: these beautiful furnishings for God’s House.” 

“This altar will be here longer than I will,” said Heisler. He was honored to craft the altar, which he hopes will become a legacy of art and beauty in the Apache community of San Carlos for generations to come.