Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I'm happy to share another update on everything that has been happening with our renovation project.
CHURCH CEILING
Over the last several weeks, work on the church ceiling has progressed. Drywall has been installed in each of the three transepts. Carpenters have also started installing the wood "ribs" that will form the coffered ceiling, as shown in the photo below.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
Crews completed the installation of our new fire alarm system, which is a tremendous upgrade from our old system. We've added additional sensors and devices throughout the church and in the attic space above the ceiling. The notification system also includes a horn, strobe alerts, and a voice alert system. While these features are commonplace nowadays, they are significant upgrades from our old system.
THE DOME
The fiberglass dome should also arrive soon. It will be installed in sections and prepared to receive the canvas on which the image from Revelation 5 is currently being painted. The artwork should be installed later this spring.
Below is the artist's initial rendering of the dome image. Anthony Baus, the lead artist for our project at Conrad Schmitt Studios, uses this smaller painting he prepared to guide his work on the canvas.
Christ, depicted as the Victorious Lamb, is at the center of the image in St. John's vision recorded in Revelation Chapter 5. Blood issues forth from his heart, a sign of his sacrificial offering and death for us. The angel catching the Precious Blood in a chalice is a traditional Eucharistic symbol often found in sacred art over the centuries.
To the right of the Lamb and below, St. John holds a parchment and a pen, which he uses to record his vision for us in the Book of Revelation. Additonal angels are seen in the dome's center, in worship around the Lamb.
Behind the Lamb, we see the glow of his heavenly glory, which brings a remarkable brightness to the image and draws our eye to Christ, the Lamb of God, who is at the center of all things.
Around the outer dome are depicted the elders John saw in his vision. These elders are among the saints and are clothed in white robes, a sign of their sharing in the victory of Christ (see Revelation 7:14). They are worshipping the Lamb, some with hands outstretched, some holding harps to accompany the new song they sing to the Lamb of God:
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength,
honor and glory and blessing.” (Revelation 5:11)
to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength,
honor and glory and blessing.” (Revelation 5:11)
They also hold gold bowls filled with incense, whose rising smoke "are the prayers of the holy ones" (Revelation 5:8). Offering our prayers before the Lamb is a sign of their intercession for us and of the beautiful reality of the Communion of Saints, which links together the human family both on earth and in heaven.
SCRIPTURE VERSES
When we introduced the proposed renovation to the parish early last spring, I shared that one primary goal of our design was to include various Scripture verses from St. John's writings in the church and sacred art. We wanted to deepen our connection with our patron by including verses from his sacred writings in the artwork and liturgical furnishings where appropriate.
I am so pleased with how all of this is coming together for us. Here are the areas where Scripture will accompany the new artwork and furnishings:
The Dome
One of the Scripture verses, already quoted above, will be painted around the dome's base. It is from Revelation 5:11 and is the song of worship that all of heaven offers to the Lamb of God:
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength,
honor and glory and blessing.”
to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength,
honor and glory and blessing.”
The Ambo, Altar, and Tabernacle Pedestal
The new ambo, altar, and tabernacle pedestal will contain three other Scripture verses drawn from the Prologue of John's Gospel (Chapter 1.) These sacred furnishings are central to the Mass, and the verses inscribed on them connect us deeply to the sacred mystery of the Mass and the timelessness of the Eucharist.
As such, these verses, all central to the Sacred Liturgy, will be inscribed in Latin:
- "In Principio Erat Verbum" (In the Beginning was the Word - John 1:1) will be inscribed on the ambo, where God's Word is proclaimed at every Mass.
- "Et Verbum Caro Factum Est" (And the Word Was Made Flesh - John 1:!4) will be inscribed on the altar, where Jesus changes bread and wine into his Body and Blood and becomes flesh for us at each Mass.
- "Et Habitavit In Nobis" (And Dwelt Among Us - John 1:14) will be inscribed on the pedestal holding the tabernacle, where Jesus chooses to remain with us in the Real Presence of the Eucharist.
After inviting parishioners to share their thoughts on using either Latin or English on these sacred furnishings, we chose Latin since it is here, at the Mass, that we are most deeply connected with the sacred mysteries and the eternal work of our salvation. Latin, the universal language of the Church, transcends the particulars of time and culture. The use of Latin gives us a sense of the Church throughout the world as a single family, undivided by language and culture.
All of the other Scripture verses will be in English.
Floor Medallions
At the head of the three aisles leading toward the sanctuary will be marble medallions set into the terrazzo flooring.
Each medallion features a verse from John 6, Jesus' Bread of Life discourse.
As we approach to receive Communion, the Sacrament of Jesus' Body and Blood, the medallions will remind us what Jesus taught:
- "The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." (John 6:51)
- "My Flesh is true food and my Blood is true drink." (John 6:55)
- "Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life." (John 6:56)
The marble artisans in Italy have completed the medallions, which are awaiting shipment. As you can see in the images below, the inscriptions are polished bronze lettering set in marble. The marble's color matches the sanctuary floor and the new altar, ambo, and tabernacle pedestal.
Blessed Virgin Mary Shrine
Above the renovated shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be the words Jesus spoke from the Cross to John and the entire Church: "Behold Your Mother" (John 19:27). This declaration, spoken just before he breathed his last, is the reason we honor Mary not only as the Mother of God but also as our mother.
Sacred Heart Shrine
Above the new statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus will be one of the best-known verses from the entire Bible: "For God So Loved The World" (John 3:16). This verse declares the Lord's great love for us. It is the same love revealed by Jesus when he appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and, gesturing to his Sacred Heart, declared: "Behold the heart that has so loved men..."
Baptismal Font
In the waters of baptism, we become the adopted sons and daughters of God the Father in Christ. This gift of becoming "sons in the Son" is the beginning of our new life in Christ. Our new baptismal font will declare this truth with the inscription from the first Letter of St. John (Chapter 3, verse 1): "See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God."
Thank You!
Thank you for making the transformation of our church possible through your generous gifts and donations! The artwork and sacred furnishings incorporating the Scripture verses described above will be beautiful. But behind the scenes, in the "guts" of the building, we are able to make a significant investment in the building and infrastructure that will last for years, thanks to your generosity.
Please continue to pray for all those involved in the work and for the Lord's blessings on all that is being done.
Sincerely in Christ,
