Download
1 / 25
250 likes | 364 Vues
Saint Kathryn Parish Hudson, New Hampshire A Guide and Reflection for Our Church. Dedicated August 12, 2000 The Great Year of Jubilee. Please press the F5 key to begin. Click to advance. From the Pastor’s Desk Dear Friend,
E N D
Saint Kathryn Parish Hudson, New Hampshire A Guide and Reflection for Our Church Dedicated August 12, 2000 The Great Year of Jubilee Please press the F5 key to begin. Click to advance
From the Pastor’s Desk Dear Friend, We offer you this booklet to you in celebration of the Lord blessing the work of our hands in building this holy place for His honor and glory and for the assembly of His people. It is our sincere hope that these pages will not simply serve as a “tour guide” as you make your way around our church, but also be a source of reflection, and give you an ever greater appreciation of the beauty and symbols of Catholic worship. This sacred space was formed with the work of many talented hands. The structure, its furnishings, and its art, all praise the God who gifts us with such diversity! Such of these works remind us of days past, communities that no longer gather in spaces they once used. It is with thankful hearts that we acknowledge the beauty of these works – in wood, stone, and stained glass. Move freely in this holy place and may you take from here a sense of the abiding presence of the One who promised: “I will be with you always.” In His Love, Fr. Gary J. Belliveau Pastor
Welcoming Christ Know that you are always welcome at St. Kathyrn’s.
ENTRANCE TO THE CHURCH Passing through the doors is meant to be a symbolic act of entering into the Kingdom since, through the Sacred Liturgy celebrated within, we are “invited to taste on earth the gifts of the world to come.” The design of our front entry, based on a monastic enclosed portico, is meant to reflect this awesome symbolism.
FAÇADE OF THE CHURCH The individual stones that form the complete front of the church remind us of the Scriptural challenge to be “living stones built as an edifice of Sprit, offering spiritual sacrifices” and building up the body of Christ as we live our lives and bring Christ to the world. The cornerstone within the façade reminds us that none other than Jesus Christ can be the cornerstone, the foundation of our faith! The Jubilee year in which this church is dedicated is commemorated with the simple Jubilee motto proclaiming Jesus Christ – Yesterday, Today, Forever! It celebrates the abiding presence of the Lord with those who’ve come before us, with us still, and for us to pass on to our children. The granite flooring beneath the portico was taken from our old church.
STEEPLE BELL Within the tower is a beautiful bell, cast in 1895 by the Meneely Bell Company of Troy, New York. It was a gift from the Little Sisters of the Poor in Somerville, Mass. It once graced the tower of their Novitiate Chapel. The bell is “christened”, that is, named: Jesus-Mary-Joseph. It is used as a call to worship, to signal the elevation of the Host and Chalice at Mass, to toll the dead, to ring out in celebration, to signal the Angelus at morning, noon and night, and concludes each day at 9 p.m. with three sets of three tolls known as the “De Profundis” (translated: Out of the Depths), ringing to call all to pray for all our deceased who still long to see the face of God!
BAPTISTRY Upon entering the church one enters into a gathering space that is the Baptistry, containing at its center the baptismal font. The positioning of the font at the door is a symbolic reminder that we enter the Church, the Family of God, through Baptism. Holy water at the church door is a reminder that this is “home,” we belong because of our baptismal bath. If we choose to use it as we leave it becomes a reminder to live out our baptismal call. It is most appropriate, therefore, that we bless ourselves from the flowing waters of our baptismal font in the entry. The moving waters represent the “living waters” of Baptism, alive with the Spirit of God. The two tiers of the font allow the water to flow and make the immersion option of Baptism, the more ancient form, a possibility. The eight sides of the font symbolize the eighth day – out of time sequence – in other words, the reality that the gift of Baptism is the gift that ultimately brings us out of time and into eternity!
THE AMBRY The wall unit containing the Holy Oils is found within the Baptistry. One contains the Oil of the Infirmed (OI) used in the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, another contains the Oil of Catechumens (OC) used to anoint those to be baptized, and the other contains the Sacred Chrism (SC) a mixture of oil and fragrance used in Baptism, Confirmation, Ordination and the Dedication of an Altar and Church. Their position is a visible reminder of Christ at work in the Sacraments, touching the lives of the people of God.
RECONCILIATION ROOM The confessional offers either a face to face dialog option or the anonymous confession at the kneeler with screen. This area, along with the vesting room and cry room, is off of the baptistry area. For information on reconciliation go to http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Sacraments/Reconciliation.asp
PASCHAL CANDLE The sign of the presence of the Risen Savior, outside of the 50 days of Easter, remains near the font and is used in Baptisms and Funerals to demonstrate our share in the life and light of Jesus! The stand for the handmade candle is a restored antique that matches the set of Gothic candlesticks within the sanctuary at the reredos on either side of the crucifix.
CONSECRATION CANDLES As one walks throughout the church one will note 12 crosses with candles before them. These mark the 12 places that were anointed with chrism as the church was solemnly dedicated by the Bishop and set apart as holy. This tradition is taken from the 12 foundations of the Temple described in Revelation.
SHRINES Various saints are honored in statuary in our church. Their location is symbolic as well. The shrine of our Lady, is predominant as she is the first among all saints. Since they were ordinary people, like us, who responded to the call of holiness, it is most fitting that they be located among us throughout the church, as their prayers are with us in our journey to holiness. Our Lady is depicted at prayer with and for us, crowned as queen of heaven and earth. Her shrine was constructed from portions of a side shrine in the former St. Peter’s Church, New Haven, Conn. The antique statue was originally in St. Columba Church, that later became St. Rita Church in Lowell, Mass. when a new church was built there in 1925. St. Joseph is also from Columba, now St. Rita’s in Lowell. Both statues have been professionally restored. St. Joseph is shown with the Christ child rather than tools, emphasizing the urgent need for fathers to be involved in the lives of their children, exemplified in the tender love of the foster-father of Jesus, Son of God.
St. Kathryn (Catherine of Siena) is a custom designed hand carved work from Italy. She is depicted in her Dominican habit, holding the lily (a sign of purity) and a book (sign of her wisdom and mysticism) as well as the marks of her stigmata (the wounds of Christ) in her hands and feet and symbolized on her head by the crown of thorns she wears to express her great union with Christ Crucified
St. Francis of Assisi and St. Anthony are also statues made in Italy that depict Francis’ great love of creation in the bird he holds, and St. Anthony’s vision of Jesus “The Word Made Flesh” in the Christ Child sitting on the Scriptures in his arms.
St. Maximillian Kolbe is another Italian carved statue that reminds us of this modern day saint who gave his life in place of a fellow prisoner in the Concentration Camp of Auschwitz in World War II. The glasses he wears is a clear indication of his modern-day life..
The Sacred Heart of Jesus statue is of traditional design, with the Lord pointing toward His Heart, the symbol of his love and mercy, with one hand, and bestowing blessing with the other.
St. Michael the Archangel was dedicated as the parish was placed under the protection of this mighty warrior and protector against the powers of the evil one.
The Pieta in the back of the transept chapel depicts the Mother of Sorrows holding the dead body of her son, Jesus. It is designated as a “parent’s shrine” in our church.
Sister Faustina and Padre Pio statues were made in Italy and are of traditional design. Notice their stance: Heart to God, hand to man.
TABERNACLE AREA The “house” for the tabernacle was handmade in Italy and uses carvings and the interior bronze tabernacle from St. Peter’s Church in New Haven, Conn. The woodwork surrounding the Tabernacle, along with the restored hanging sanctuary lamp, were all from St. Peter’s as well. The two angels holding additional lamps were hand carved in Italy for our church. SANCTUARY The reredos (or backdrop) was restored from St. Peter’s Church in New Haven, with imported Verona tapestry added. All the Gothic style candlesticks are restored from churches that closed. The crucifix is handmade, with a hand carved corpus modeled on an original by Michelangelo. The altar, ambo (pulpit) and tables were handcrafted to match the restored reredos. The presider’s chair was brought over from the old church with two new chairs made to match. All woodwork was restored or crafted new by Mr. Paul Hardy through St. Michael Liturgical Arts. The altar contains a cross in its floor with an opening, now covered with a carved rosette. In this aperture the Bishop placed the relics of St. Catherine of Siena and Blessed Anne Marie Rivier at the dedication of the altar.
Divine Mercy Image of Jesus Icon of Jesus painted by George Pinecross.
Emmaus Chapel – located in the office building. Icons by George Pinecross.
