Art & Worship

The Way of the Cross

The Way of the Cross is a devotion that helps us to realize the love of God for us, and our responsibility to God that results from His love. So through the story of Christ's suffering and man's salvation, until we come finally to the truth that tries man's credulity, Christ dies on the cross. In these stations we have not used the traditional titles for each station for we felt that these are both obvious and well known and could be omitted. Rather, we selected texts from the Old Testament. For the stations of the cross are a meditation, and these texts suggest one avenue of thought appropriate to such a meditation.

Stations 1 & 2

Stations 3 & 4

Stations 5 & 6

Stations 7 & 8

Stations 9 & 10

Stations 11 & 12

Stations 13 & 14

Windows Artwork

The South Windows

A series of seven stained glass windows grace the south wall of the church. In these windows. the story of the Redemption, the theme of St. Mary Church, is reflected once again through the visual artwork that one finds throughout the church.


  1. The story of the Redemption begins with Creation. This first window shows the creation of the world and the fall of man: the need for Redemption.


  1. The promise of Redemption is depicted with prophets sent by God to keep alive man's hope until the time when the Holy Spirit overshadows Our Lady and her Divine Son is conceived in her womb.


  1. The coming of the Redeemer is noted by the star of Bethlehem and Christ at work sewing the seeds of the Gospel.


  1. Redemption is accomplished. Christ suffers and dies on the cross and then rises from the dead triumphantly.


  1. The Continuing of the Redemption: the Church. The Holy Spirit descends on the Apostles so that they might carry on the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.


  1. The Gospels are the means by which Christ's work continues. The four evangelists are symbolized as: Matthew by a man, Luke by the ox, Mark by the lion and John by the eagle.


  1. Redemption today is represented by the saints in heaven who have sown the seeds of the Gospel, surround Christ reigning gloriously in heaven with the Holy Spirit shown guiding the Church represented by the seven sacraments.


Narthex Saints Artwork

On the screen separating the nave of the church from the narthex are six colorful representations of saints, designed by Jackson Woolley.


  1. St. Francis saw in all nature the greatness and goodness of God, is shown with the sun for a halo and the birds as his companions.

  2. St. Patrick with fire signifying the Faith be brought to Ireland and the shamrock, his means of explaining the Holy Trinity.

  3. St. Paul is shown with firewood recalling his shipwreck and survival on Malta where he was believed sent from God (Acts 28).

  4. St. Peter The Fisherman, with his net and the key of authority around his neck showing that he became a "fisher of men".

  5. Jeremias The Prophet, with a potter's vessel broken at this feet, reminds us to obey God Who has the power to create us and smash us like a vessel of clay.

  6. Moses holding the tablets of the Law.

St. Francis

St. Patrick

St. Paul

St. Peter

Jeremias

Moses

Tabernacle Artwork

The Tabernacle is of bronze. Its doors are enriched by a porcelain on copper representation of the Last Supper, the institution of the Holy Eucharist. Surrounding the tabernacle on three sides is the throne, on which the Monstrance rests whenever the Blessed Sacrament is to be exposed for adoration of the faithful. The throne is of walnut with three panels on each side of porcelain on copper.

One side depicts panels showing Jews gathering manna, then Abraham willing to offer his son Isaac in sacrifice and finally Melchisedech offering a sacrifice of bread and wine prefiguring the sacrifice which Christ would offer.

The other side depicts the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. It was after this miracle that Christ referred to Himself as "the living bread which came down from heaven" and promised a bread which would give eternal life.


Baptistry Artwork

The baptismal font is on a line with the altar to show the connection between these two.

Only after man is born again may he approach the altar to be nourished by the supernatural life of the Eucharist.

Dominant in the baptistry is the window portraying the baptism of Christ.

The blue hand-fired floor tile suggest water, the element chosen by Christ to be the symbol of the spiritual washing and rebirth.


Sanctuary Artwork

The theme of the church is Redemption, and so the sanctuary represents the accomplishment of the redemptive work of Christ.

Designed in neutral colors in order to focus attention on the altar, the sanctuary wall symbolizes light and darkness.

The Cross is dominant and from it comes the light, the brightness of salvation. Within that area of salvation stands Our Lady, the Mother of God; within it also is a small white cross representing Dismas, the Good Thief. Below on the right, in the dark area where the light of Christ does not reach, lies the cross of the unrepentant thief.


North Wall Paintings

Two paintings on the north wall of the church present two great truths concerning Christ, His Humanity and His Divinity.

  1. The Nativity

Saint Joseph is portrayed as the protector of the "Word made flesh" and the Blessed Mother.


  1. The Transfiguration

He is man as we are, He is also God. The splendor of His divinity shines through His humanity.

Transfiguration

Nativity