After the pipe organ in the chapel at Bon Secours Spiritual Center underwent full-scale renovation, workers returned the instrument to a spot just a few feet from its former location, near the back wall of the balcony.
But the difference - visually and sonically - was dramatic.
Seven towering gold-colored pipes now hang in front of the balcony railing and dozens more ranging from a few inches to more than 6 feet in length are mounted on either side. Formerly tucked away inside the wood case, the pipes are suspended above the congregation, where they can be seen and heard.
The rest of the 800 pipes reside in a new wood cabinet just behind the railing. A row of wooden slats on the front can be opened to adjust the volume.
With a new design, repaired parts and electronic upgrades, the organ is a welcome sight after many years when it worked poorly - or not at all - and nine months of refurbishing in a New Jersey workshop.
"It is a wonderful voice that can be raised to God," said Thomas E. Little, the center's executive director. "It is a wonderful way to share some talent and uplift people's spirits."
On Thursday evening, the center in Marriottsville will celebrate the return of the organ and the completion of a broader renovation of the chapel with a dinner and concert.
The chapel renovation is part of about two years of construction work at the 40-year-old center that entailed upgrading the overnight accommodations, meeting rooms, food service and grounds. In addition to sprucing up the organ, the work in the chapel included reconfiguring the area at the back to open up more space, upgrading the lighting and installing a fountain.
Founded as a home for sisters of the Roman Catholic order of Bon Secours (meaning good help), the center still serves as the sisters' provincial administrative offices, a residence for retired and infirm sisters and a place of learning for newer members.
In the mid-1960s, the sisters decided to open their doors to the public, expanding the site's role as a place for spiritual retreats. Today, the center offers accommodations for individual or group retreats, regular educational and spiritual activities and space for other groups with compatible missions to hold meetings.
In recent years, the center has been seeking new ways to reach out to the public, including movie nights, a Mother's Day brunch and a series of concerts. Little said he plans to have organ music as part of the regular atmosphere of the chapel and envisions the organ as the centerpiece of a concert series next year.
