Church of the Holy Family plants time capsule

SEWELL – Fifty years ago, seeds of faith were planted in a wooded area of town that grew into the Church of the Holy Family.

As part of its anniversary commemoration, the parish buried a time capsule Nov. 17 with hopes and prayers that those seeds continue to grow.

“The anniversary celebration should be for the past, present and future of Holy Family,” said Father James Bartoloma, parish pastor. “A time capsule moves our minds toward the future. I hope that the contents of the time capsule will be a snapshot of life at Holy Family, a little bit about life in the world in 2024, and that the seeds of faith that’s growing here now will come to a fruition in 50 years.”

The plan for the time capsule began more than a year ago, when Father Bartoloma approached the parish’s 50th anniversary committee with the idea.

“We started planning events [for the 50th anniversary of the parish],” Bob Sullivan, former president of the Holy Family parish council, said. “We envisioned that the end of this entire anniversary year would be an anniversary Mass, a gala celebration dinner, and the time capsule.”

Father Bartoloma asked Sullivan to take the lead in organizing what would go into the capsule.

“I did research on time capsules and how to preserve things because I had found a ton of stories about groups that had opened time capsules after 10 or 25 years, and items, in some cases, were pretty much mush,” Sullivan said. “So we also bought preservation kits.”

The committee, religious education staff and others helped collect items for the capsule. They included: letters to future parishioners from the parish and Father Bartoloma; photos of clergy, parishioners and the Knights of Columbus; a Breaking Bread missalette for the current liturgical year; copies of the Catholic Star Herald from Oct. 25, Nov. 1 and Nov. 15; a copy of the Philadelphia Inquirer from after the election; a 50th anniversary Christmas ornament; a program from the Oct. 27 anniversary Mass, as well as a ticket, program, and menu from the 50th anniversary gala; and parish bulletins from Oct. 27 and Nov. 17.

“We wanted to put in there a little bit that is representative of today, but also a little bit that represents us speaking from today to the people in the future,” Sullivan said. “In effect, what we’re doing is praying to the good Lord for them.”

Also included in the time capsule were letters from children in the religious education program.

One sixth-grader wrote: “Dear God, I hope in 50 years everyone has hope and is great and also stops being mean to others. I hope they will always love you and others. I will still think of you, God, and everyone will, too. Love you, God. P.S. God, take care of my loved ones.”

Before blessing the capsule and placing it in the ground, Father Bartoloma read the parable of the mustard seed from the Gospel of Matthew.

“I think the parable of the mustard seed is a perfect metaphor for Holy Family. Fifty years ago in 1974, the seeds of faith were planted, and we see the blossoming of what is here,” Father Bartoloma said in a reflection on the Gospel reading. “Now, in this community, there’s different memories that we’re burying today. It reminds us that there are seeds of faith that are sown right now in this time at Holy Family that, nourished by God’s grace, are going to grow and blossom into the future.”

Father Bartoloma said he hopes that the youth who are currently present will be there when the time capsule is opened in 50 years. “I hope their letters inspire them and the next generations.”

Sullivan said the time capsule is a prayer for the future.

“The God who is present to us today is the God who is present to them,” he said. “God has nurtured us and cared for us up to this point, and we want you to know that we’re praying for you into the future.”