The First Mass At Ozark’s Portiuncula

Father Nicholas Ward leads a mass Friday, Oct. 4 at the recently completed chapel in Ozark.

The doors stood wide open at the small, curious stone building next to the old Catholic Cemetery in Ozark Friday, Oct. 4.

Passers by peered in as they drove past. Some making two trips to make sure they saw what they thought they saw on the first pass.

Insects buzzed in an out the open doors, trying to decide between the sunshine and the stone interior.

Candles flickered in the breeze as some of the small group inside knelt in front of their wooden chairs. Others respectfully remained seated.

The sunshine, the breeze, the cars going past at varied intervals, even the creatures small, all blended together with the little, now complete stone building, creating a modest, yet holy atmosphere.

The atmosphere was the completion of Fra. Chris Dickson’s vision of a recreation the modest chapel of St. Francis of Assisi, Portiuncula.

As vehicles passed by on Ozark-Eddy Bridge Road and the sun looked down on the nearby Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Father Nicholas Ward held the first mass at the completed chapel, on a day that was surprisingly fitting as the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi.

Father Ward welcomed the small crowd, including Dickson and Denny Ward, of Ward Construction, who, along with his son Brock, were instrumental in designing and building the small stone chapel.

Only one day before Father Ward spoke what was likely the first bit of Latin in the area since the old Immaculate Conception Church was closed in 1981, the final touches were put on the chapel, including the hanging of the 500-pound doors, crafted by Emery Weaver.

And finally, Dickson got to see his vision in all its glory. While modest, Dickson sees it for what it is – a great accomplishment, one that he was unsure he’d see a few months ago after being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and given only 6 months to live.

“It’s beyond what I ever saw,” Dickson said.

Entering the small chapel, the fine details come to light, the small windows that allow just so much light on other side, the stained glass windows behind the stone alter, created with the same stones used to build the chapel. All of it pieced together to create something small, yet remarkable.

“There were no blueprints,” Dickson said. “I’m dumbfounded. It’s so great.”

Father Ward was honored and pleased to be able to share in the moment.

“It’s exciting because he (Dickson) did all this his self. It was his prerogative,” Father Ward said.

In a way, Dickson was imitating St. Francis, as his building was imitating St. Francis’ chapel. A modest man creating a modest chapel for a modest community and a modest purpose.

But for that first mass, as the candles shone and the doors stood wide open for all to see, the modest chapel was as great as any cathedral ever built – at least for Dickson.

At that moment he prayed, thanking the Lord for giving him the time to see his vision come to completion, and asking for the opportunity to celebrate another mass there in the future.

But whether that comes to pass or not, Dickson was able to look on his chapel and see that it was done.

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