April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
PARISH PROJECT
Couple built fire of faith
"That wasn't the original plan," Mr. Mullins said. Rev. David LeFort, pastor, "didn't expect me to do it for free."
Mr. Mullins is a mason for New York State. He does some woodwork, but mostly repairs masonry in state buildings. He said he's probably turned over every piece of marble on the Empire State Plaza in Albany.
Mrs. Mullins works for the state disability office. She has little bricklaying experience.
But "I'm a good helper," she said. Mr. Mullins said his wife's help cleaning the work area and fetching close to 400, 25-pound stones for the fire pit was integral.
The finished five-by-three-foot pit held a memorial fire on the 10th anniversary of 9/11; firefighters, police offices, war veterans and emergency workers watched over it.
"It looked so nice and it was really touching," Mrs. Mullins said. "A lot of people don't even know who built it, but people were sharing in such an important day, and we were able to help in their grief."
Mrs. Mullins was a sophomore at St. Bonaventure University in Olean in September 2001. She holds the terrorist attacks partly responsible for her decision to return to her native Stillwater and finish school in the Capital Region. She said that creating something to commemorate the event was "kind of special."
St. Mary's parish plans to use the fire pit as a seat and garden when it's not being used for fires.
The Mullinses, who live in Menands, met in the underground walkway connecting New York State buildings in Albany. They married three years ago.
Mr. Mullins was baptized Catholic, but his family didn't attend Mass. After the wedding, he decided to take Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults classes at St. Mary's. Last year, after 10 months of faith formation, he made his First Communion and confirmation.
"I was really proud of him," Mrs. Mullins said. "I'm very happy that now we can go [to Mass] as a family."
Mr. Mullins said he was "very nervous at first," but receiving the sacraments "felt great. It was actually very comforting."
Mrs. Mullins had attended RCIA classes with him, allowing them to study Scripture together. It gave her a "different perspective" on the faith. Now, the couple may teach middle school faith formation.
The Church is an important part of married life for them. During their marriage preparation meetings at St. Peter the Apostle parish in Stillwater, they learned about the five Cs: communication, church, children, commitment and career.
"The five Cs can keep everything together," Mr. Mullins said. "Definitely, church is number one. We have our little hobbies, but church is the main thing we do together."[[In-content Ad]]
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