Decorative Elements of Church
The Tabernacle and Sanctuary Lamp
The Tabernacle was made in Chicago by Excelsis and is solid cast bronze with 24kt gold overlay hammered and plated to the bronze.
The Tabernacle is the resting place for the Blessed Sacrament (the body and blood of Jesus) when Mass is not being celebrated.
The Sanctuary Lamp is always lit when the Blessed Sacrament is present in the Tabernacle. The Lamp was also artistically made in the USA by Excelsis, and is bronze. The candle within the lamp is changed every seven days. The Lamp is designed to be seen from every angle in the Church.
The Tabernacle was made in Chicago by Excelsis and is solid cast bronze with 24kt gold overlay hammered and plated to the bronze.
The Tabernacle is the resting place for the Blessed Sacrament (the body and blood of Jesus) when Mass is not being celebrated.
The Sanctuary Lamp is always lit when the Blessed Sacrament is present in the Tabernacle. The Lamp was also artistically made in the USA by Excelsis, and is bronze. The candle within the lamp is changed every seven days. The Lamp is designed to be seen from every angle in the Church.
Stained Glass Windows
The stained glass windows were designed by renowned American stained glass artist Richard A. Buswell and crafted in Virginia of mouth-blown antique glass by the Lynchburg Stained Glass Company.
The dramatic Stations of the Cross windows, the two exquisite Rose windows, the beautiful Clerestory windows, and the radiant Baptistery window are wonderful examples of Buswell’s artistic concern for color, texture, movement and imagery. He has masterfully used symbolism in each of his windows, from the wheat and grapes motif (representing Christ’s body and blood) to the palm leaf and olive branch which symbolize martyrdom and reconciliation. The anchor in the center of the leaves represents Christ as (in the artist’s own words) “… the anchor in the storm of our daily lives… very appropriate in regards to the geographic location of this new church”.
The stained glass windows were designed by renowned American stained glass artist Richard A. Buswell and crafted in Virginia of mouth-blown antique glass by the Lynchburg Stained Glass Company.
The dramatic Stations of the Cross windows, the two exquisite Rose windows, the beautiful Clerestory windows, and the radiant Baptistery window are wonderful examples of Buswell’s artistic concern for color, texture, movement and imagery. He has masterfully used symbolism in each of his windows, from the wheat and grapes motif (representing Christ’s body and blood) to the palm leaf and olive branch which symbolize martyrdom and reconciliation. The anchor in the center of the leaves represents Christ as (in the artist’s own words) “… the anchor in the storm of our daily lives… very appropriate in regards to the geographic location of this new church”.
The Crucifix
The wooden cross is solid hand-hewn cypress and the Corpus was expertly carved of first-grade Chiaro marble in Italy. The Corpus weighs just over one ton and is slightly larger than life-size. The marble for this masterpiece was chosen for its finished polished beauty. Some twenty slabs of marble were considered before Geno Barsanti (the master carver in Italy) chose the one from which this Corpus emerged. Geno says that you “only have to remove the marble which doesn’t belong”. It took some twenty-two weeks for the body of the Corpus to be completed and an additional three weeks for each arm. Both arms were attached after the Cross and Corpus were in place.
The Corpus stands 7’2” and his arms reach over 6’. The arms are attached with white cement and epoxy (the same epoxy used to install windshields in helicopters). Some of the unique features of the carving are the drape of the loincloth and the hair of Jesus, which were left unpolished, while the body was polished. The side cut (the spearing of Jesus) was also left unpolished. Another unique feature is the mounting of the Corpus to the Cross. This was achieved with one single bronze pin, which was custom made for this Corpus. Only 4.5” in length, this pin is the only thing holding the corpus to the cross. The pin weighs 11 lbs. and is mounted through the cross and in the lower middle back of the Corpus.
The Cross was just as hard to create. It stands just over 20’ and the cross bar is 7.5’. It consists of hand-hewed cypress from Coffeeville, Alabama, cut some five years earlier and stored in a barn to dry. We had searched all of the United States and Canada for hardwood which could hold the Corpus, and finally we found it in our own back yard. The timber used was chosen for its length, width, straightness, and beauty. The piece was milled down to the correct size and cut into two pieces, one 22’ x 1’ x 8” and the other 8’ x 1’x 8”. It was finished on site by David Lowery, who also erected the Cross and Corpus.
This is the largest stone carved Crucifix in Alabama, and probably the largest in the South. The finished sculpture stands 21.5’ high and 7.5’ wide and weighs over 1.4 tons. It took sixteen men, two cranes and some six hours to erect.
This ‘Holy Reminder’ is just that – a holy reminder and a tribute to the crucified Lord who rises from the dead and lives in the Holy Eucharist.
The wooden cross is solid hand-hewn cypress and the Corpus was expertly carved of first-grade Chiaro marble in Italy. The Corpus weighs just over one ton and is slightly larger than life-size. The marble for this masterpiece was chosen for its finished polished beauty. Some twenty slabs of marble were considered before Geno Barsanti (the master carver in Italy) chose the one from which this Corpus emerged. Geno says that you “only have to remove the marble which doesn’t belong”. It took some twenty-two weeks for the body of the Corpus to be completed and an additional three weeks for each arm. Both arms were attached after the Cross and Corpus were in place.
The Corpus stands 7’2” and his arms reach over 6’. The arms are attached with white cement and epoxy (the same epoxy used to install windshields in helicopters). Some of the unique features of the carving are the drape of the loincloth and the hair of Jesus, which were left unpolished, while the body was polished. The side cut (the spearing of Jesus) was also left unpolished. Another unique feature is the mounting of the Corpus to the Cross. This was achieved with one single bronze pin, which was custom made for this Corpus. Only 4.5” in length, this pin is the only thing holding the corpus to the cross. The pin weighs 11 lbs. and is mounted through the cross and in the lower middle back of the Corpus.
The Cross was just as hard to create. It stands just over 20’ and the cross bar is 7.5’. It consists of hand-hewed cypress from Coffeeville, Alabama, cut some five years earlier and stored in a barn to dry. We had searched all of the United States and Canada for hardwood which could hold the Corpus, and finally we found it in our own back yard. The timber used was chosen for its length, width, straightness, and beauty. The piece was milled down to the correct size and cut into two pieces, one 22’ x 1’ x 8” and the other 8’ x 1’x 8”. It was finished on site by David Lowery, who also erected the Cross and Corpus.
This is the largest stone carved Crucifix in Alabama, and probably the largest in the South. The finished sculpture stands 21.5’ high and 7.5’ wide and weighs over 1.4 tons. It took sixteen men, two cranes and some six hours to erect.
This ‘Holy Reminder’ is just that – a holy reminder and a tribute to the crucified Lord who rises from the dead and lives in the Holy Eucharist.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus (located in front of the Church)
This sculpture stands 5’6” tall and weighs 600 lbs. This Christ is presented as wind-blown and in movement, and was inspired by the description of Christ walking on the water - so fitting for its placement in front of this church situated across from the Gulf of Mexico.
The marble is white Carrara from the same vein as the Pieta by Michelangelo, which today can be found in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. His arms are outstretched to welcome all to the Church.
This sculpture stands 5’6” tall and weighs 600 lbs. This Christ is presented as wind-blown and in movement, and was inspired by the description of Christ walking on the water - so fitting for its placement in front of this church situated across from the Gulf of Mexico.
The marble is white Carrara from the same vein as the Pieta by Michelangelo, which today can be found in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. His arms are outstretched to welcome all to the Church.
The Monstrance
The Monstrance is gold-plated and holds the Body of Christ and is used at Benediction. When in use, the Luna (the clamp which holds the consecrated Body of Christ) is placed inside the Monstrance and the glass door is closed. The Priest, Deacon or Lay Minister will have a Humeral Veil placed around their shoulders during Benediction so as not to touch the Monstrance for elevation. This exposure of the Blessed Sacrament is an expression of adoration and contemplation of what Jesus did for us.
Once Benediction nears completion, the celebrant will make the sign of the cross with the Monstrance for the blessing from Christ to descend to the congregation. The Monstrance is placed back on the altar, the class door is opened and the Luna is removed and returned to the Tabernacle.
The Monstrance is gold-plated and holds the Body of Christ and is used at Benediction. When in use, the Luna (the clamp which holds the consecrated Body of Christ) is placed inside the Monstrance and the glass door is closed. The Priest, Deacon or Lay Minister will have a Humeral Veil placed around their shoulders during Benediction so as not to touch the Monstrance for elevation. This exposure of the Blessed Sacrament is an expression of adoration and contemplation of what Jesus did for us.
Once Benediction nears completion, the celebrant will make the sign of the cross with the Monstrance for the blessing from Christ to descend to the congregation. The Monstrance is placed back on the altar, the class door is opened and the Luna is removed and returned to the Tabernacle.
