2024: Year in Review
With another year in the books, here is our annual reflection on the blessings and milestones of the past year, with hearts full for the many ways the Lord has provided and worked through our team for the past seven years.
With another year in the books, here is our annual reflection on the blessings and milestones of the past year, with hearts full for the many ways the Lord has provided and worked through our team for the past seven years.
The new 18-foot tall crucifix at Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church in Katy, TX
In 2023, we saw three large ground-up new construction projects finally dedicated after years of work: St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul MN, St. Mary’s Catholic Center in College Station TX, and Church of the Visitation in Westphalia, TX. In 2024, the focus of our work shifted to completion of a large number of exciting renovation projects, many of which had been in the works just as long, and the start of several new construction conceptual designs that will remain in progress and development for several years to come as the Lord allows these visions to be gradually brought to life. The most imminent to begin construction, St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Dripping Springs, is scheduled to break ground this coming summer on a new 1,000+ seat church. Additionally, several beautification and sacred arts projects were also completed by the team. We are extremely pleased to provide a brief overview of these project highlights and share our joy at seeing the excitement they have each brought.
Early in the year, Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church in Katy TX saw installation of a new crucifix in late January. The parish had ordered a 9-foot corpus with the intent of pairing it with an existing cross that proved too small. Studio io partnered with ALBL Oberammergau to design an 18-foot Gothic Revival inspired cross drawing on elements from other recent furnishings and sacred arts additions inside the church. The Star of Bethlehem serves as a centerpoint in lieu of a traditional halo, and the ends of the cross feature beautiful carved and painted scenes of the events traditionally associated with Epiphany: the gifts of the Magi, the Baptism of the Lord, and the miracle at the Wedding at Cana. The cross was shipped in pieces and assembled on site, being carefully planned to be suspended vertically from decorative chains at the rear of the sanctuary behind the altar.
St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Richardson, TX at Christmas
Next, St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Richardson, TX completed the final phase of renovations inside the church in time for Easter on March 31. The project began with an initial phase of replacing the pendants and wall sconce lighting and reconfiguration of the sanctuary steps with new marble flooring. These changes alone proved dramatic and included careful disassembling of existing granite furnishings to be relocated with layout changes to the steps and levels of the sanctuary.
Subsequent work included new reredos, crucifix, and votive shrines by Granda, new confessionals from repurposed support space at the rear of the church, and additions to the existing principle furnishings (altar, ambo, chair, font) in limestone and mosaic. Efforts were taken to preserve the Texas prairie style of the church’s 1980s heavy timber and brick masonry design, with included motifs in the stone, wood, and metalwork, flooring designs, and light fixtures, as well as the local Texas limestone and Italian mosaic panels by ALBL Oberammergau applied to the furnishings.
JPII Newman Center at UIC in Chicago IL saw a number of additions as a third and final wave of ongoing chapel renovations after the initial phases of chapel, confessional, and sacristy renovations were completed in preceding years.
Stained glass windows by Gaytee Palmer were commissioned to replace all of the original and deteriorating faceted glass. The chapel’s rear set of clerestory windows received a triptych scene of the Transfiguration. The remaining six are side aisle windows, paired symmetrically and ascending in size from the back of the chapel towards the front as the roofline elevates above the sanctuary.
In these windows, pairs of angels were chosen reflecting images of heavenly worship from Revelation. The rear pair of angels hold instruments (harp and trumpet), as the choir is located in the rear of the sanctuary. The middle pair of angels aligns with the center of the seating, with angels placing a hand over their chest to reflect the sacrifice of praise of the faithful in the liturgy. The final and tallest pair of windows has angels with thuribles for incensation in the sanctuary.
The six angels hold scrolls with the words from Revelation 5:12: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power and divinity and wisdom and strength [and honor. Glory and dominion be to him until the ages of ages.]”
The new chapel at Our Lady’s Healing Center at Stella Maris Ranch in Seadrift TX was dedicated May 2, with Michael Raia attending. As the facility was originally built as a private hunting and fishing lodge, a suitable location for a chapel was needed. It was determined that a private dining room possessed the perfect proportions, to which the team carefully designed a chapel reflecting the inspiration of the nearby painted churches of Texas, most of which are located within the same diocese (Victoria) and serve as a spiritual reference point to the benefactors and priests.
Gothic furnishings by Little Way Construction, Stained Glass by Foster, Crucifix / Statuary by ALBL Oberammergau, and decorative paint by New Jerusalem Studios & Stabat Mater Foundation all adorn the chapel.
Later in the year and just days before Christmas, the first phase of large murals was be installed – roundels featuring a coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Star of the Sea on the front wall above the altar and an image of Christ the Divine Physician on the rear wall above the entry doors – with subsequent decorative paint and murals yet to come in 2025.
Read more about this about the project on Liturgical Arts Journal here.
In June, the team had a special opportunity to provide a last-minute design of an altar for Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, coordinating a quick-turnaround and delivery of the piece by Little Way Construction, who designed a custom suspension system with retractable wheels for the altar to make it suitable for conferences and large events. The altar is built of stained oak wood with gilded accents and features the traditional eucharistic symbol of a pelican feeding her young from her own flesh.
This humble little altar got a lot of attention by virtue of the impressive coverage of the event, but all glory goes to Jesus Christ in the most holy sacrament of the altar, for whom the work was done. Since we weren’t able to attend in person, we’ve collected a handful of the many great images we saw on social media and various press surrounding the event – if we’ve used one of yours and you’d like a photo credit, please let us know!
Sacred Heart in Paxico KS completed a first phase of church renovation, which was dedicated September 15 with Ryan Pigg in attendance. The centerpiece of the project is a new altar of sacrifice, which complements the stunning original high altar, along with new ambo, baptismal font, presidential chairs, servers’ seating, and credence tables. The principal furnishings feature custom mosaic inserts and faux marble finishes.
New sanctuary flooring and three custom mosaic medallion inserts featuring the IHS Christogram, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the lily and t-square of St. Joseph provide an elevated aesthetic for the church starting in the sanctuary that will now look to decorative paint to complete the sanctuary, along with a future extension of the beautification and improvements into the nave.
New sacristy crucifix, statues at St. Mary’s Catholic Center in College Station
Also in September, ALBL Oberammergau was working diligently to deliver the final statues to St. Mary’s in College Station TX and a new processional crucifix for St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston, just in time for the latter to host the annual Society for Catholic Liturgy Conference, which happened to include a field trip to see the new church in College Station with Michael Raia and Mike Tamara leading tours.
The latest items in College Station include a custom crucifix of Christ the High Priest in the clergy and servers’ vestry, a set of custom romanesque candlesticks and altar crucifix, and Beuronese-inspired statues for multiple votive shrines throughout the church. Two additional 5-foot statues of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts now occupy narthex entry/exit shrines opposite the entry into the Baptistry / nave flanked by Sts. Peter and Paul; 3-foot statues of Sts. Anthony of Padua and Anne have shrines in parents’ narthex cry areas, while additional 3-foot statues of Sts. Maria Goretti and Theresa of Calcutta, and Sts. John Paul II and Pio of Pietrelcina occupy shrines in the left and right transects, respectively.
In Houston, St. Mary’s Seminary’s new crucifix features similar themes to those it inspired in College Station, including a blue Marian motif and an image of the Paschal Lamb as the Tree of Life drawn from its apse dome.
A new processional crucifix for St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston TX
Before and after, St. Joseph in Mason TX
To start a busy fall round of dedications, on October 6, the historic (1876) St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mason TX was rededicated with Michael Raia in attendance. After extensive exterior roofing, belfry and steeple repair, and waterproofing work, the interior portion of the project sought to better unify the original construction and the 1960s expansion, with a decorative painting scheme inspired by elements of the original design from photos, a restoration of original painted ceilings that extended original artwork across to the newer addition, and new motifs based on the life of St. Joseph and the Tree of Life. The church is also now home to a relic and shrine of Blessed Stanley Rother in the left transept which was previously set up as a cry room. The church also now features a separate narthex / baptistry and a reconfigured confessional, with completely rebuilt choir loft access via a new stairwell.
On November 19, Reitz Memorial High School in Evansville IN dedicated a newly renovated chapel that will continue to serve as the center of spiritual life for the school’s mission, and Ryan Pigg attended. The previous interior walls were removed to expand the space available, with all new finishes including plaster, flooring, drywall and wood paneling. Careful integration of new and existing HVAC and plumbing elements was required. New pews, furnishings, and statuary complement the existing character of the building, including extension of the chapel into the adjacent corridor by way of a large shrine of St. Joseph and two transom windows above the entry doors to the chapel, featuring patrons Bl. Basil Moreau and St. (Mother) Theodore Guerin.
Before new reredos in 2021 (left) and after (right) of Corpus Christi in South River, NJ
Just in time for Christmas, Corpus Christi Catholic Church in South River NJ completed all new woodwork additions to complement what remained of the 1952 building, and the major portion of decorative paint work by Swiatek Studios, which makes up a second phase of renovation work to the church. Mike Tamara has visited to see the progress and view the church in full Christmas splendor. Read more about the reredos on Liturgical Arts Journal here.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Hastings, MN Before
After, Fourth Sunday of Advent liturgy return to the church after many months of renovation work. Credit: Chris Faleisek
Also just in time for Christmas, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Hastings, MN completed the major portion of phase 1 construction on a significant church interior renovation that included leveling a sloped floor Greek cross plan, relocation of the choir from behind the sanctuary to a rear loft, and an entirely rebuilt sanctuary. Entirely new lighting systems were installed with custom pendant fixtures. A prominent Greek-revival inspired reredos houses beautiful murals by Markell Studios themed as Jesus Christ: Priest, Prophet, King. New votive chapels flanking the sanctuary will offer intimate places of prayer before statues of the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph that will arrive in the coming months. Also pending arrival in time for Easter, a new sound system, and a carved rood crucifixion scene will be suspended above a new marble altar and other new sanctuary furnishings. A second phase will include a renovation of the Baptistry, new confessionals, and a special votive chapel for parish namesake St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. We look forward to sharing more photos and details about this and other exciting recently completed projects very soon!
FORMATION RECAP
In the spring, Michael Raia had the privilege of teaching a graduate distance learning course in Art, Architecture and Aesthetics for the new School of Pastoral Leadership & Evangelization at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake, his alma mater under the prior organization The Liturgical Institute. This course was a turning point in his own vocational discernment and paved the way for Studio io’s mission. With clergy and lay students seeking MA in Liturgy and STL degrees, enrollment from around the US and across the globe included students from Macau, the Caribbean, the Philippines, and Malawi, Africa. The highlight of the course was a final paper analyzing the theology of a church building of the students’ choosing.
PERSONAL UPDATES
The team was blessed to expand again, formally welcoming Nick Vasko, Katherine Kelly, and Benjamin Spitler, each of whom had done ad hoc work with Studio io prior to 2024. Now, nine regularly contributing members each bring a unique background and skill set alongside a strong desire to serve Christ and his Church through liturgical design and sacramental aesthetics. Read more about our team here.
In the fall, Michael Raia, Mike Tamara, Ryan Pigg, Nick Vasko, and Kate Kelly were able to meet in Houston in September to attend the Society for Catholic Liturgy Conference and spend time together in person learning about the liturgy, visiting beautiful buildings, chatting with other Catholic leaders and creatives, and most importantly, praying together!
Elizabeth and Tommy Openshaw welcomed baby Maggie to their family on June 3. Michael and Hannah Raia were able to visit the Openshaws while being in the area for vacation in the summer, then welcomed their own second daughter, Juliette, on November 12.
Our team is more enthusiastically committed than ever to the mission of renewal and is grateful for continued opportunities to learn, grow, and be challenged to allow ourselves to be transformed as we seek to help the Holy Spirit renew the Church and world. We remain so thankful for all that God has done both for and with us. We are also deeply grateful for the prayers we have received from everyone who supports our team and our clients. We entrust this coming Jubilee year as always to the continued intercession of Our Lady and St. Joseph – pray for us!
2023: Year in Review
We again take an opportunity to pause and reflect on the blessings of the past year, with deep gratitude to all that the Lord has accomplished in the past six years of our team’s work together!
We again take an opportunity to pause and reflect on the blessings of the past year, with deep gratitude to all that the Lord has accomplished in the past six years of our team’s work together!
In 2023, we saw the fruition of many years-long efforts that began in the early days of Studio io’s mission and now serve as unique proclamations of what God intends to do with each of us as he perfects and fashions us into his holy temple as a light to the nations.
COMPLETED NEW CONSTRUCTION
St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul MN concluded a roughly year-long construction process of a new addition featuring chapel, residences and communal spaces for priests, basement meeting and hobby space, with an almost-complete Dedication on April 20 by an overjoyed Archbishop Hebda and to a full house of glowing seminarians. Those in attendance were filled with awe seeing unique mural work designed by EverGreene and painted by local Twin Cities sacred artist Nicholas Markell and his studio, as well as beautiful furnishings and carvings by ALBL Oberammergau. Over the subsequent weeks of the remaining spring semester and summer break, the chapel grew in beauty still, with the arrival of custom pews and the completion of two large exterior mosaics (also designed by EverGreene) made and installed by Lenarduzzi, along with matching mosaic furnishings panels on the altar, ambo, and altar of repose. Then came the insertion of 24 stained glass windows (four each featuring groups of three angels in the sanctuary, and another 20 each featuring groups of three prophets and saints) by another Twin Cities studio, Gaytee-Palmer. The final element to find its new home was a completely custom new pipe organ by Lewtak, commissioned with great care by UST’s director of sacred music, Dr. Jacob Benda. We have been delighted to visit several times since dedication and see the final pieces fall into place, enriching the worship and formation of the outstanding men at SJV and those entrusted with their care. We are sincerely grateful to rector Fr. Jon Kelly and his incredible staff for their patient generosity, kindness, and inspiring vision for the Church. We are very grateful to Finn Daniels Architects for the collaboration on this challenging and extremely special project.
Above Top: The new 5-story addition includes a new basement level with hobby and meeting space, double-height chapel, two floors of faculty residences, and a rooftop entertaining room and patio. Bottom: The interior of the chapel after the final phases of sacred art were installed in the months following the dedication, a home of prayer for the men.
After a two-year journey, the long-anticipated dedication of the new church for St. Mary’s Catholic Center in College Station TX took place on July 29, with a full house and nine bishops in attendance, led by Bishop Joe Vásquez with pastor Fr. Will Straten representing the eager throngs of faithful students, staff, benefactors, and other resident community. We’ve been delighted hearing enthusiastic reports from those who have been able to visit since the opening and pray this church serves to glorify God and call his people to intimate communion with him for years to come. Artwork produced through extensive collaboration by EverGreene, ALBL Oberammergau, Foster Stained Glass, and Texas Carved Stone formed the majority of the sacred arts program, which included an impressive showing of the first phase and reach goal items in time for the Dedication and opening liturgies preceding the start of the 2023 academic year. Future phases of completing the vision are already underway and currently feature additional statuary in the narthex. We have greatly enjoyed working closely with BRW Architects on this and several other current projects.
Above: the completed interior for Dedication features rich figural murals and decorative paint, luminous stained glass, and custom statuary and furnishings with mosaic panels. Below: the exterior of the new church and interior details from the Dedication Mass.
To round out the trio of long-awaited new construction projects dedicated in 2023, Church of the Visitation in Westphalia, TX finally opened its doors in August after a devastating 2019 fire destroyed the beloved historic wooden church. Pastor Darrell Kostiha, a local native from the parish, led a team of committed volunteers to restore the spiritual home of this community. The twin towers once again mark the hilltop as seen from miles around, and the bells ring out again to call the faithful to prayer, which brought many to tears after the long wait to replace such a beloved edifice. We are grateful for the tireless work of Design/Build team K4 Construction to bring this beautiful vision to life.
An updated but historically-inspired rebuild of the Church of the Visitation in Westphalia, completed in August, marking 4 years since the previous edifice was lost in a tragic fire.
COMPLETED RENOVATIONS
Also in the summer, work was complete on a new reredos by Little Way Construction for St. Joseph in Killeen, TX, tying an existing stone altar of repose to the 1960s tester canopy and using the existing crucifix. The underside of the canopy was also painted to further integrate the pieces. Alterations to the predella (the steps that raise the altar above the rest of the sanctuary platform) allow for full incensation around the altar and expand the space available for the priest to celebrate Mass on either side of the altar. The ambo was elevated using matching rose granite.
Nearby at an adjacent parish, Holy Family in Copperas Cove received a beautiful and large new reredos of their own, designed to complement and conceal an existing pipe organ. Designed by Studio io in close collaboration by its builders in Spain – Talleres de Arte Granda – the reredos was carefully assembled on site in a week and blessed by Bishop Joe Vásequez immediately thereafter.
During the fall, we teamed up again with Granda to visit Corpus Christi Cathedral for the dedication of the completely renovated Emmanuel (crypt) chapel. The new design, aiming to better reflect the character of the impressive original cathedral building in whose basement level it resides, retains the original 1980s side aisle arches and coffered ceilings, but replaces flooring, pews, lighting, and the entire sanctuary and furnishings.
The renovated Emmanuel Chapel in the Corpus Christi Cathedral serves as a crypt for bishops and was renovated in a Spanish baroque and Romanesque style of the original architecture.
FORMATION RECAP
This year, Michael gave a presentation in April for St. Mary’s College Station on the new church, which opened a few months later. The talk featured explanations of the arc of early concept to a nearly-completed church building, with layered typological references to the Garden of Eden and desert tabernacle / temple archetype fulfilled in Mary the Mother of God, the new Eve and first tabernacle. The firm was also able to collaborate closely with St. Mary’s to prepare Tour Guide booklets for the Dedication that remain in the narthex to explain the architectural theology of the church building and the narrative of the sacred art, themed around the glory of transformation in Christ through the Christian life and sanctification offered through the sacraments, as modeled par excellence by the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is Mother of the Church. The new church has served as a vibrant setting for a monthly, full-house eucharistic exposition event Magnify, giving life and a human face to the Word Made Flesh, our eucharistic Lord.
Subsequently, Michael was invited to give two workshops for an outstanding Eucharistic Revival sponsored by the Diocese of Lansing in November. The sessions included ‘Homeward Bound: The Eschatological / Heavenly Dimension of the Eucharist’ and ‘A Church of the True Presence: How Sacred Art & Architecture Reinforce Eucharistic Theology.’
Finally, in December, St. Thomas Aquinas parish in Dallas hosted Michael for a monthly speaker series to give a presentation entitled ‘Beauty and the Eucharist,’ reflecting on the nature of beauty as a revelation of God’s very being, love itself, and how that is expressed and encountered sacramentally in the Christian life, with the eucharist as its source and summit.
PERSONAL UPDATES
The team was very blessed to expand again this year, enthusiastically welcoming Elizabeth Openshaw, who joined Studio io this summer shortly after getting married to her husband, Tommy. New residents of Washington state, they have loved spending time in the great outdoors. They look forward to all the way God will work and guide their lives as they begin their life together.
Michael and Hannah Raia welcomed their daughter, Clare Pia, on June 1. She was baptized by her uncle, Fr. Jonathan Raia, and the priest who provided marriage prep and administered her parents’ vows, Fr. Paul-Michael Piega. The baptism took place in the newly completed St. Mary’s just one week after its dedication, marking the first Christian initiation in the Church and baptismal font.
Ryan and Cecilia Pigg enjoyed summer travels this year exploring the western United States. In the fall, they sold their house and moved cities to be closer to family – just in time for the wintertime birth of their fourth child and first daughter, Aoife Clare.
Katie and Jerome Ortega experienced a lot of growth together in 2023, professionally and personally. They spent eight joyful months preparing for their daughter Giavanna Marie. Our Lord called her home just before she was expected to be born, but Katie and Jerome found great peace in honoring and celebrating the gift of her life, short as it was. Giavanna means “God is gracious,” and they feel that even under such a heavy cross. They attended the dedication of the new church at St. Mary’s Catholic Center, after Katie also traveled to Minnesota for the dedication of St. John Vianney College Seminary’s new addition.
Elsa Kosegarten-Stubblefield & Jeremy had a full year, spending spring break in Hawaii and then traveling to Mexico in April for her sister’s wedding. In June they welcomed baby #3 and their first boy, Joaquin. He was baptized in July, and family from Mexico came to meet him. Their oldest, Natalia, started Kindergarten in the Fall. Elsa and Jeremy then spent the Christmas in Illinois and rang the New Year in Austin.
Mike and Lauren Tamara had a busy year, with two musical teenagers and a now-mobile toddler. Aedan made high school marching band as a freshman, and participated in many competitions, and Hope sang with the advanced school choir on the stage of Radio City Music Hall and at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. Eli began walking and has full run of the house now.
We all continue to give thanks to God for his abundant blessings in providing us the opportunities to apply our talents to the service of our wonderful clients, with deep gratitude for the individual generosity of those who make our work possible. We entrust this coming year as always to the continued intercession of Our Lady and St. Joseph – pray for us!
2022: Year in Review
In a year with many current projects currently in development construction to share, we again take the opportunity to reflect in gratitude on the many blessings of the last year.
In a year with many current projects currently in development construction to share, we again take the opportunity to reflect in gratitude on the many blessings of the last year.
COMPLETED RENOVATIONS
As we enter our sixth year of business, two more significant renovation projects have been completed, while three other major new construction projects are now in their final months. Just over a year ago, John Paul II Newman Center at University of Illinois Chicago re-dedicated a renovated chapel, the first and largest of multiple phases of beautification centered on renewal of the sacred liturgy and centrality of the sacraments and devotional life of its campus ministry. Over the summer, the next phase was completed that consisted of swapping existing sacristy and confessional rooms, building a new confessional with vestibule, and completely outfitting the new sacristy. A third and final phase featuring replacement stained glass, additional symbolic carvings for the altar, ambo, and reredos, and statue of St. Joseph are planned for this year.
Just two months later, St. Edward Catholic Church in Athens TX celebrated their dedication of a new church – formerly a protestant campus on the outskirts of town. The work was completed by local carpenters and features an English gothic theme and motifs of King Edward the Confessor and Christ the true King. Subsequent phases will include new stained glass and exterior improvements.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
While at this time last year we saw the large steel frame skeleton of St. Mary’s Catholic Center in College Station taking shape, the building’s exterior began to look much more complete nearing the end of the year. The interiors are now largely surfaced with drywall and the remaining finishes will begin to be installed in the coming weeks. Stunning sacred arts will soon begin to arrive on site as well – murals by EverGreene, stained glass by Foster furnishings by Texas Carved Stone and ALBL Oberammergau, who are also providing statuary and – awaiting a complex orchestration of installations in final months of construction later this spring. Dedication is scheduled for July 29.
Exterior brick, cast stone, roofing, and other materials are applied at St. Mary’s in College Station, TX
St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul MN began construction last spring and saw rapid progress on a new addition featuring chapel, residences and communal spaces for priests, basement meeting and hobby space, set for April 20 Dedication. The chapel also features mural work conceptually designed by EverGreene and developed / painted by local Twin Cities sacred artist Nicholas Markell, stained glass by Gaytee-Palmer, furnishings and carvings by ALBL Oberammergau, and mosaics by Lenarduzzi.
Above: brick and other exterior materials are applied to the St. John Vianney Seminary addition. Below: The interior of the chapel takes shape.
Finally, a long-awaited rebuild of Church of the Visitation in Westphalia, TX after a devastating 2019 fire destroyed the historic church has also made significant progress. The iconic twin towers are once again proudly lifting their crosses and bells atop the hill to again be the beacon that served for so many generations before. Construction is expected to conclude in August.
The exteriors at Visitation in Westphalia are largely completed, with the exterior porch being framed.
FORMATION RECAP
The fall presented several opportunities for formation: Three parish presentations took place in Wisconsin – Holy Rosary in Medford in Aug & October and at St. James in Amherst in October. Michael also presented to St. Mary Cathedral and the University Catholic Center twice for RCIA, and he and Hannah assisted with presentations for two Marriage Prep Retreats as well. Appearances on Red-C Radio and an interview feature in the Word on Fire Evangelization & Culture Journal provided opportunities to continue to spread Studio io’s mission of ongoing liturgical renewal and evangelization through beauty.
PERSONAL UPDATES
The Studio io team has been delighted to welcome Ryan Pigg, a resident of Topeka, KS. Ryan and his wife Cecilia expanded the Pigg family to three little Pigglets over the summer. Life is a little crazier for them, but so far they have stayed ahead of the big bad wolf with a lot of detailed brickwork.
Katie Ortega and her husband Jerome celebrated a first year of marriage and Jerome’s 40th, spending time with family at the Ortega mountain house and attending weddings. This first year married offered a lot to look forward to in the years to come as God guides family and careers.
Elsa Kosegarten-Stubblefield & husband Jeremy spent a month in Mexico in the summer, listing among their year’s highlights their daughter Natalia playing soccer in the fall, traveling to Texas for Thanksgiving, and also seeing up with fellow Studio io teammates Katie and Ryan for the Society for Catholic liturgy conference in Denver!.
Mike Tamara and wife Lauren and their family joyfully welcomed their new addition of baby Eli. Mike was also able to meet Michael and Hannah in Philadelphia for some team-building and church sightseeing.
Michael Raia and wife Hannah were finally able to make a long-awaiting pilgrimage to eastern Europe that was postponed in 2020. The trip allowed them to visit their good friends at ALBL Oberammergau and see works in progress for St. Mary’s Catholic Center new church and St. John Vianney College Seminary addition, after a large shipment had been completed and sent a few months prior for Church of the Visitation.
We continue to give thanks to God for his abundant blessings in providing us the opportunities to apply our talents to the service of our wonderful clients, with deep gratitude for the individual generosity of those who make our work possible. We entrust this coming year as always to the continued intercession of Our Lady and St. Joseph – pray for us!
2021: Year in Review
As last year seemed to have passed more quickly than any before, we again take the opportunity to pause and reflect on the Lord’s Providence.
As last year seemed to have passed more quickly than any before, we again take the opportunity to pause and reflect on the many milestones for which we are grateful to the Lord in his Providence.
On March 12, Bishop Steven Raica of the Diocese of Birmingham re-dedicated the renovated, historic church of St. Leo the Great in Demopolis, AL. We are grateful to our good friend Fr. Justin Ward for working with us on this project, to Liturgical Arts Journal for their coverage, and to Murals by Jericho and New Holland Church Furnishings for their great work on this very special project.
Before (top) and after (bottom) of the historic interior renovation of St. Leo the Great in Demopolis, AL
Tree of Life, Living Vine by Albl Oberammergau
On August 26th, Bishop Joe Vásquez of Austin blessed a new (refurbished) brass tabernacle, new wood altar of repose to match the existing altar of sacrifice and ambo, and a new custom crucifix made by Albl Oberammergau in collaboration with Studio io at the University Catholic Center on the University of Texas at Austin campus. We are grateful to Fr. Jonathan Raia for allowing us to help with this wonderful endeavor – the impact to the Holy Spirit Chapel, a place where Michael spent a lot of time in college, is tremendous; we pray it blesses many other students with a truly sacramental encounter with Christ in the liturgy. Again, we are grateful to our friends at Liturgical Arts Journal for their coverage of this exciting commission.
Bishop Vásquez then had an exciting re-dedication of his own on October 9 at St. Mary of the Assumption in Taylor, TX. A beautiful project in the works for a couple of years as it went through various planning phases, the decorative paint was completed by John Canning Liturgical Arts in a rich scheme that complemented Marians blues with dark wood trim.
Before (top) and after (bottom) of the large renovation project at St. Mary of the Assumption in Taylor, TX
Drawings and general construction for the renovation – in close collaboration with Canning and other consultants and including the move of a historic pipe organ which was salvaged from the previous church – were completed by K4. Studio io team has also been collaborating with K4 on Church of the Visitation in Westphalia, where the new church is quickly taking shape. Albl Oberammergau is completing work on a large furnishings and statuary package to replace the items lost in the 2019 fire, which will also include a sizable stained glass replacement package by Foster Studio, also currently in production.
The recognizable twin towers of the historically-inspired rebuild of the Church of the Visitation in Westphalia, TX and some of the the stunning replacement / replica stained glass, statuary, & furnishings.
While much of the previous year (2020) was spent on the development of the design for a new church at St. Mary’s in College Station, 2021 saw the vision begin to materialize. On May 19, Bishop Joe Vásquez blessed the site and lead groundbreaking for the construction, which commenced shortly thereafter. Four bronze bells are currently on site awaiting installation in the bell tower as the steel frame nears completion. Likewise, the 9-foot tall brass statue of Our Lady of Victory will soon be installed atop the dome. The first stained glass window featuring St. Francis of Assisi was completed by Foster Studio and is temporarily being housed in the student center atrium where it is on display facing what will be the future entrance to the new church. A sample pew with kneeler is also on display in the lobby.
Lots of progress at St. Mary’s in College Station as early sacred art & furnishings arrive and the steel frame is erected.
Soon to follow and hopefully show construction progress this coming spring is the new addition to St. John Vianney Seminary in St. Paul, MN, including a new chapel, offices, and residences. The project has been a wonderful collaboration with Twin Cities architect Finn-Daniels and several local artists and craftsmen.
St. John Vianney Seminary in St. Paul MN
Just before Christmas, construction was wrapping up on the first phase chapel renovation at the John Paul II Newman Center at the University of Illinois - Chicago (UIC), which was Dedicated on Jan 8. More photos of the completed work to follow soon, as well as the launch of a second phase to include new stained glass and additional renovations and sacred art components. Our team’s many thanks to Fr. Connor Danstrom for his enthusiastic leadership of this exciting project.
Before (top) and After / Dedication (bottom) at John Paul II Newman Center at UIC in Chicago. Below: progress photos as construction draws to a close in preparation for Dedication.
The year also brought significant life changes to several members of the team as well, beginning with Elsa Kosegarten-Stubblefield and her husband Jeremy and two children moving to Atchison, KS, where Jeremy is now teaching at Benedictine University. Michael Raia and his wife Hannah were married at St. Mary Cathedral in Austin, TX on September 25. Michael’s brother Fr. Jonathan Raia celebrated the liturgy. Video can be found here, credit to Mark Leatherman. Photo credit to Arlen Nydam.
Not long thereafter, Katie Ortega and Jerome were married at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Denver, CO on Nov 27 by good friend Fr. Callan Sweeney. Photo credit Anderson Art.
Finally, as a critical element in Studio io’s mission, a good deal of formation took place in the last year as well, courtesy of several gracious hosts. Here are some highlights:
Diocese of Dallas Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry Bootcamp Workshop – 'Restored in Christ: An Introduction to Sacred Liturgy' (Feb 4)
Austin Institute Fellows Workshop on Beauty (Mar 6)
Austin Institute Podcast on Beauty (May 12)
DWELL Conference at Christ the Good Shepherd Chapel in Bryan, TX – 'As it is in Heaven: The Eschatological Dimensions of the Eucharist' (Aug 14)
University Catholic Center Speaker Series – 'Homeward Bound: The Eschatological Dimensions of the Eucharist' (Sept 9)
St. Mary Cathedral / University Catholic Center RCIA Class – The Paschal Mystery (Nov 3)
St. Patrick Hutto – 'Restored in Christ: A Re-enchantment w the Sacred Liturgy' (Nov 10)
St. Mary Cathedral / University Catholic Center RCIA Class – The Mystical Body of Christ (Nov 17)
In closing, we are so grateful to our clients and those who financially support the projects that provide us work and pay our bills. We also want to provide a sincere thanks to all of you who enthusiastically support our mission and pray for us, our families, and our work. We pray the Lord continues to count us worthy to serve him in this wonderful vocation. May God richly bless you and yours in the coming year!
Tree of Life, Living Vine Crucifix
The University Catholic Center has a new crucifix that has been anticipated for a number of months during fundraising and its careful production in Germany by renowned woodcarving studio Albl Oberammergau.
by Michael Raia
O Lord our God
You have replanted on our earth the garden lost in Eden, and you have sent a new Gardener to till the soil plowed by the wood of the cross. He who is both the farmer and the seed has watered the earth with his life’s blood, shed for our redemption. Make us grow in his likeness by the power of his word dwelling in our hearts. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Magnificat, Morning Prayer – January 11, 2021
Tree of Life, Living Vine Crucifix produced by Albl Oberammergau in collaboration with Studio io for the University Catholic Center in Austin, TX. Courtesy of Albl Oberammergau
The University Catholic Center, which serves the University of Texas at Austin, has a new crucifix that has been anticipated for a number of months during fundraising and its careful production in Germany by renowned woodcarving studio Albl Oberammergau. Designed as an entirely custom commission as a collaborative effort with Studio io, the Tree of Life, Living Vine crucifix simultaneously offers a simple reflection on the rich imagery of Christ’s teaching in the Gospel of John, Chapter 15 and the presence of Mary the Mother of God and the Beloved disciple at the foot of the cross and also rewards further inspection and contemplation with layers of deeper content. The words of John 15 are treasured passages and images for student groups which feature numerous aspects of scriptural typology and liturgical theology, borrowing the best from the eastern and western traditions in sacred art, both ancient and contemporary. The crucifix features a hand-carved and painted corpus in sculptural relief, set on a painted iconographic cross with gold leaf.
Precedents
Given the chapel’s existing niche and prior crucifix, certain elements made sense to retain – a painted cross but more recognizably from within the Church’s gothic/iconographic tradition, such as the beautiful San Damiano, San Gimignano, or Cimabue crucifixes. At the same time, the size argues for larger secondary / tertiary figures, similar to the Rinaldo de Siena’s Crucifix with Mourners, where Mary and John are present on either side of Christ. The presence of these figures both personalizes and universalizes the Paschal mystery and presents it as central to the individual and corporate dimensions of liturgical worship as members in Christ’s Body, the Church. The flatness of the niche and the desire for a more comfortably western crucifix with corpus in relief made recent blended versions of the ancient Italianate examples perfect patterns to follow.
Further inspiration was drawn from the popular early Christian mosaic apse dome precedent at San Clemente in Rome, a reflection on Christ as the fruit of the Tree of Life, and the Living Vine. This precedent served as a primary inspiration for the iteration in the apse dome at St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston, where the 12 apostles are depicted as doves within the branches of the vine. These blending of these images perfectly summarizes the Mystical Body theology of Vatican II that places the Paschal Mystery of Christ firmly at the center of the liturgy and sacraments.
Finally, a careful overview of presentations of Christ as the fruit of the Tree of Life, the Living Vine, and even the cross as the winepress of Christ’s blood spilled for the life of the world provided the opportunity for interplay between Christ’s blood and the subtle vine motif that binds together the other symbolic elements and forms the basis for specific scriptural reflection.
Stylistic Overview
The overall artistic style blends the best aspects of the gothic tradition (itself a balanced blend of iconographic and naturalistic baroque styles) to present Jesus and all of humanity in the space between heaven and earth, a style of pilgrimage. Like the earthly liturgy as both a reality of earthly time and space and one that exists outside of both, this presentation calls to mind the original good of creation that awaits with anticipation the full restoration that is promised in Christ, and the tension between grace and the fallen world within history while we await the return of the Savior. The style is further developed according to the Beuronese movement, including the use of symmetry and order to allow more comfortable naturalistic presentation of the figures in a measured way.
This adjustment avoids the excesses of hyper-realism that denies the supernatural dimension and the triumphal conceit of much of the over-indulgent baroque (not “baroque at its best”) which Benedict XVI criticized as often self-centered rather than Christocentric while keeping the overall appearance grounded in an eschatological iconographic aesthetic that suits well the sacred liturgy in an otherwise image-deprived setting.
The composed appearance and confident, loving gaze of Christ and his posture as both crucified and glorified, as celebrated in the liturgy, are not meant to downplay the historic brutality or minimize the gruesome nature of his crucifixion. Likewise, most popular depictions hardly convey the amount of blood and sheer number of wounds that would have been present on his body. Even less are these a denial of the terrible suffering that our Lord chose to endure for us on the cross. Rather, the iconographic tradition of the Church – as with many popular reliefs in use in the Church today – emphasizes a set of equally important truths about this salvific, Paschal act of Christ: namely, that in the liturgy, his Paschal mystery is made present, and at the same time, Christ is present seated at the right hand of the Father in glory. The oft-repeated axiom of liturgical theologian Dr. David Fagerberg is noted as especially appropriate to guide the discernment of depicting Christ centrally in a church: the liturgical Christ is always the eschatological Christ. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, the suffering, death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus happened within history but, by the power and action of the Holy Spirit in the sacraments, transcend time and also abide within the Church in every age:
“In the liturgy of the Church, it is principally his own Paschal mystery that Christ signifies and makes present. During his earthly life Jesus announced his Paschal mystery by his teaching and anticipated it by his actions. When his Hour comes, he lives out the unique event of history which does not pass away: Jesus dies, is buried, rises from the dead, and is seated at the right hand of the Father "once for all."8 His Paschal mystery is a real event that occurred in our history, but it is unique: all other historical events happen once, and then they pass away, swallowed up in the past. The Paschal mystery of Christ, by contrast, cannot remain only in the past, because by his death he destroyed death, and all that Christ is - all that he did and suffered for all men - participates in the divine eternity, and so transcends all times while being made present in them all. The event of the Cross and Resurrection abides and draws everything toward life.” – CCC 1085
The historic reality of the passion of Christ is made present at the altar as a living and current reality, but at the same time, Christ has also conquered death and is seated now in glory in heaven, a truth made apparent in the deeply liturgical content of Revelation, which describes the Lamb that had been slain as the center of heavenly worship. The entrance into Christ’s death, explained by the Apostle Paul, is precisely what affords the People of God the incredible opportunity to also rise with him – this paradox is celebrated in every Mass and is represented, albeit in a limited way along with every artistic attempt, in way that suspends the liturgy between time and eternity.
This is the mystery of the cross in Catholic liturgy: Christ is the Great High Priest, calling all the baptized, his bride the Church, to share in his priesthood as a holy nation by way of a sacrifice of praise, a joining of hearts and minds to his own sacrifice on the cross made present under the appearance of bread and wine which become his very Body and Blood. He invites us with his own words, recorded in the Johannine Gospel, to make Mary our own Mother and the Mother of our Church, and to be his beloved disciple as he works through his Church to restore that which he created. This sharing is how we participate in his divine life as sharers in his eternal inheritance; we are grafted onto Christ, the True Vine and Tree of Life.
ON THE FACE OF CHRIST
The eyes of Jesus are looking out, not strictly up at the heavens in anticipation of heavenly glory nor solely down at the earth in contemplation of human sin and suffering. Rather, he keeps his eyes fixed in a liminal state; his intense, peaceful gaze is fixed on the present, abiding in all times and inviting everything past and present toward participation in divine eternity by way of the heavenly banquet of the liturgy.
In the liturgy of the Church, it is principally his own Paschal mystery that Christ signifies and makes present. ... His Paschal mystery is a real event that occurred in our history, but it is unique: all other historical events happen once, and then they pass away, swallowed up in the past. The Paschal mystery of Christ, by contrast, cannot remain only in the past, because by his death he destroyed death, and all that Christ is - all that he did and suffered for all men - participates in the divine eternity, and so transcends all times while being made present in them all. The event of the Cross and Resurrection abides and draws everything toward life. (CCC 1085)
While Jesus was fully man and clearly suffered greatly during his six hours on the cross, the liturgical Christ present in the liturgy is no longer actively suffering bodily in heaven in the present. His suffering on Calvary is made present on the altar in an un-bloody manner, inviting the joining of our suffering and sacrifice to his – a sacrifice of praise. The faces of Mary and the Beloved Disciple to whom he gave one another in one of the last of his actions before death remind us that we, at the foot of the cross, bring our sufferings along with those of our Mother Mary, to Jesus. We offer them in every liturgy to join to his Passion made present in the gifts on the altar so that we might also share in the joy of his resurrection and be granted eternal life.
“By the mystery of this water and wine, my we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity.”
The open mouth of Christ on the cross invites several dimensions of reflection. First, it calls to mind the words spoken from the cross, particularly the words 'I thirst," seen as a declaration of love and an invitation to an intimate and personal relationship for every human person he came to save through his salvific act.
“If you knew the gift of God!” The wonder of prayer is revealed beside the well where we come seeking water: there, Christ comes to meet every human being. It is he who first seeks us and asks us for a drink. Jesus thirsts; his asking arises from the depths of God's desire for us. Whether we realize it or not, prayer is the encounter of God's thirst with ours. God thirsts that we may thirst for him. (CCC 2560)
Additionally, this word from the mouth of the Son of God, reminds us that Jesus himself is the Word of God, spoken by the Father to bring about all of creation:
“In the beginning was the Word. . . and the Word was God. . . all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made” (Jn 1:1-3). The New Testament reveals that God created everything by the eternal Word, his beloved Son. In him “all things were created, in heaven and on earth.. . all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”130 The Church's faith likewise confesses the creative action of the Holy Spirit, the “giver of life,” “the Creator Spirit” (Veni, Creator Spiritus), the “source of every good” (Col 1:16-10). (CCC 291)
Further Symbolism
Gold Background
The traditional iconographic and later gothic use of gold leaf for the background places the setting of the event in heaven. This important aspect emphasizes the tension between the historical crucifixion and its abiding outside of time as Christ perpetually offers himself in sacrifice to the Father for the Church. The perspective of the figures places them in the middle-ground, intentionally balanced between being too lofty or distant and too casually approachable; this iconographic technique challenges the worshiper to engage in the appropriate way.
Trinitarian Imagery
The divine life of the Trinity, the love from which and for which all things were created and another central theme from the liturgical theology of Vatican II, is represented by the traditional triangle with dove and hand of the Father. While the tradition of the west remains Christo-centric, this device is reminiscent of the similarly described events of Christ’s Baptism and Transfiguration, during which the words of the Father are heard: “Behold, my beloved Son, in whom I am pleased. Listen to him.” Christ’s words to us from his cross in return allow us to turn to Mary the Mother of God and Mother of the Church and the Apostolic Tradition of the Church (John) as our participation in his own life given by the Father as adopted sons and daughters.
Twelve Doves
The twelve white doves are grouped in three of the four arms of the cross, like the current crucifix in the chapel, remind of the four gospels and four living creatures (which have taken up their place as seraphim around the throne at the top of the cross), along with the four marks of the Church. The apostolic mission of the Church, handed on through Sacred Tradition by the apostles, is built on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and it is from this divine institution that we are invited to the banquet of the Lamb that draws us into the heavenly love song of the Trinity.
Vine and Branches
The vine and branches is a central image from John 15, and one that is also deeply liturgical and at the heart of the Mystical Body theology from the last century. It is the liturgy – grace of the sacraments – that connects us to Christ, that grafts us on as members of his mystical Body to experience the same transfiguration he does as we pass through death and into life. It is appropriate, then, that the vine is red and finds its origin flowing from the wounds in the hands and feet of Christ; the lifeblood of the Church is her sacraments. This vine is living and verdant (green) and bears fruit. The presence of grapes as a ubiquitous liturgical symbol calls to mind the wine used for the liturgy that becomes the Blood of Christ, as well as a number of events such as the Wedding at Cana and the analogy of new wineskins.
Tree of Life
The wood of the cross is at first glance subdued, but surrounded by signs of life rather than death. It bears the fruit of the Tree of Life – Christ, whose flesh is true food and whose blood is life-giving drink. The obvious sign of death, conquered by this saving act of his passion, is that of Adam at the foot of the cross. The artistic tradition of the Church frequently places this here to emphasize the scriptural assertion of Christ as the new Adam, and even a representative parallel in the Gospels between the Garden of Eden and the Garden of Gethsemane and Golgotha. The presence of death is a reminder of the inevitability and necessity of our death – anticipated and represented by baptism – as our entrance into new life in Christ.
Alpha and Omega
“I am the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end.” Christ’s words and the abbreviation for his name in Greek commonly found in icons, IC XC, squarely place Revelation as the scriptural bookend paired to Genesis – that which was original created as good and marred by sin will be restored by Christ, the same agent and Word through whom it was created in the beginning when God spoke this Word into the darkness and breathed his life into creation. The entirety of salvation history is the covenantal love story of this reintroduction of God to his people by becoming one of them, to rejoin them to relationship, to teach them true worship. The blood flowing from the four wounds in the hands and feet of Christ provide a bridge to the liturgical imagery of the fulfillment of the four rivers flowing from a single source in the Garden of Eden (Gen 2:10) with the description (Rev 21:2) of the heavenly source of the river as the throne of God and the Lamb. All peoples and all nations are called into one in Christ.
Inscription, Cord, Loincloth
The presence of the traditional announcement INRI, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, reminds of the world’s mockery of a king who would suffer and die in such ignominy. However, this king is something altogether different; he is the new great high priest, because God’s people are to be a priestly nation. Christ’s posture and ornamented loincloth, used in many liturgical crucifixes in the last century, is a subtle emphasis of his priestly office and a reminder that his sacrifice on the cross was the ultimate priestly act. The added presence of the cincture, or cord around his waist, is another reminder of Christ’s office as high priest, representative of the purity of his earthly life as he took on the sins of the world, and the call of celibacy for those ordained to priesthood according to the line of Melchizedek and Aaron.
Signs of Suffering, Signs of Glory
Another duality of the liturgical Christ, offering passage from death into life eternal, is presented in the presence of both the terrible crown of thorns and his radiant halo. Furthermore, Christ’s side has already been pierced, though his eyes remain open. This is a traditional and subtle clue that Christ crucified is made present at the altar, but he is also Christ in glory – his wounds have been transfigured but remain as reminders of his call of discipleship.
Sequence From Dom Guéranger's The Liturgical Year (Friday of the 2nd Week After Easter)
O mighty Cross!
thou drawest the whole world
to thyself, and, with thy two arms,
embracest all mankind.
O lofty Cross!
thou penetratest into the depths below,
and raisest to heaven the captives thou loosest.
On thee, Christ offered the Temple of his Flesh
—which had been built in the number of days
expressed by the four Greek letters composing Adam’s name
—he offered it that it might be destroyed;
but he raised it up again in three days,
that he might save
the four quarters of the world.
O Lamb of the Sovereign Father! That by the Cross takest away the sins of the world!
Grant, that by our growth
in faith, hope, and charity,
we may be able to comprehend,
with all the Saints,
the measure of the Holy Cross;
That having compassion on our neighbours,
and mortifying our flesh,
we may carry the dear Cross,
and be drawn by thee to walk in thy footsteps.
Thus safe and protected in this life,
grant, O divine Judge,
that, by the sign of the holy Cross,
we may be so, when standing before thy tribunal,
And may proclaim aloud to all nations,
‘That the Lord hath reigned from the Wood.’
Amen.
Let our most beautiful
praise magnify
The new victory of the great King
on the Cross.
On the Cross was conquered
the empire of death;
On the Cross was made void
the handwriting
of the sin that was of old;
On the Cross was sacrificed
the Paschal Lamb
for the flock;
On the Cross was the winepress trodden
by him that came from Edom
and Bosra.
It is the antidote
that cures the sting
of the serpent’s wound.
By the Cross is the world
brought back into God's favour;
it was, in Adam, sold by a tree,
and by a tree is now redeemed.
By the Cross,
the last made of creatures
is associated with the morning stars,
and repairs heaven’s losses.
O Cross! thou Tree of Life,
that bearest the Life
and Ransom of the world
—thou art the staff,
bearing upon thee the cluster of grapes
from the vineyards of Engaddi.
Christ is our peace,
who taketh enmities away,
and giveth peace
to them that are afar off,
and to them that are nigh.
The crucifix will be dedicated on Thursday, August 26 by Bishop Joe S. Vásquez.
St. Leo the Great Church Rededicated in Demopolis, Alabama
On March 12, 2021, The Most Reverend Steven J. Raica, JCD, Bishop of the Diocese of Birmingham, joined the Very Reverend Justin L. Ward, STL and the people of St. Leo the Great Parish in Demopolis to solemnly dedicate their new altar and freshly renovated church.
by Michael F. Tamara
On March 12, 2021, The Most Reverend Steven J. Raica, JCD, Bishop of the Diocese of Birmingham, joined the Very Reverend Justin L. Ward, STL and the people of St. Leo the Great Parish in Demopolis to solemnly dedicate their new altar and freshly renovated church. Bishop Emeritus Robert Baker was also present for the occasion, along with several other priests and seminarians.
The Solemn Pontifical Mass marked the culmination of a year of efforts, led by Fr. Ward in his role as Parochial Administrator, to renovate the interior of the 1905 neo-Gothic church, the integrity of which had been gradually diminished over decades, starting with a fire, and continuing with subsequent piecemeal modifications and the simple ravages of time. The project sought to recover a more coherent expression of the beauty of the sacred mysteries of the liturgy and to restore aesthetic consistency in the art and architecture.
Studio io provided the overall vision, liturgical design, and conceptual furniture design. Murals by Jericho designed and executed the decorative paint scheme and managed the construction process, with New Holland Church Furnituredeveloping and crafting the new interior wooden furnishings.
Prior to the renovation, mid-century wood paneling ran floor to ceiling in the sanctuary, with presider and server chairs and a modern-style resurrected Christ statue on the back wall only recently having been replaced by a tabernacle stand and traditional crucifix. Wall-to-wall red carpet covered the floors, and the interior was whitewashed save for stained wood wainscoting and the original rich wooden beam ceiling.
The new design, informed by photographs of the original interior yet not seeking to replicate it, includes a paint scheme in the sanctuary depicting a deep blue sky studded with golden stars and a dove representing the Holy Spirit surrounded by cherubim above the new altar, on which is depicted the Agnus Dei in the form of a relief sculpture made by ALBL Oberammergau. This entire image is a reminder that the liturgy joins us mystically to the life of the Trinity through the Paschal act of Christ made present by the Holy Spirit; an echo of the eternal heavenly liturgy. A painted scene was also considered for the high wall above the sanctuary arch in between the beam timbers, but it was decided that the crucifix should be hung there, evoking the appearance of an English rood beam.
Reclaimed native heart pine flooring runs throughout the church, laid lengthwise in the nave and in a herringbone pattern in the sanctuary to reflect its liturgically elevated place as the threshold between heaven and earth. An inlaid band of green, gold, and cream-colored marbles surrounding the altar, and a marble altar stone the full size of the mensa, further emphasize the dignity and sacrificial nature of the liturgy through material hierarchy. The same marble floor inlay in the baptistry around the font visibly joins it to the altar and marries the two to the architecture as the most important elements within, speaking to the permanence of place for liturgical actions as opposed to loose furniture that can be moved or separated from the dignity of the holy temple. A simplified version of the marble inlay is also located at the back of the nave near the entrance doors in the form of an inlaid floor plaque.
The elevated chalice-style ambo and adjacent full gated communion rail are two of the most readily noticeable changes. In addition to the practical purpose of providing the option of receiving Holy Communion while kneeling, the reintroduction of the rail works in conjunction with the elevated material hierarchy in the sanctuary to serve as a permeable veil to the Holy of Holies; the heavenly throne room that lies beyond, as typified in the Jewish temple of the Old Testament. Locating the ambo as a slight extension of the sanctuary into the nave is also not without significance. While done in part due to the relatively limited space around the altar, it also makes sense liturgically: whereas prayers and sacrifice are offered up to God behind the rail, the Word is proclaimed to the faithful and the homily delivered from a place still clearly delineated, yet prominently in their midst.
All furniture is made of quartered white oak with a distinctive quatrefoil and foiled arch lancet motif that draws inspiration from both original woodwork in the church and two salvaged antique period pieces: a wooden reredos donated and hand-refurbished by a craftsman who is a lifelong parishioner, and a restored wooden baptismal font. All other major furniture items are newly crafted, including the altar of sacrifice, ambo, communion rail, confessional, pews, presider’s chair and servers’ benches, and several interior door replacements.
A subtle indicator of the titular saint is a newly added Latin inscription above the entrance doors on the frieze of the choir loft, which comes from a Christmas sermon given by Pope St. Leo the Great. Translated, it reads, “Remember, O Christian, your dignity.” A powerful reminder that the faithful share in God’s nature as a direct result of His sacraments just celebrated within, this is one of the last things a person sees when exiting the church and going back out into the world.
Indeed, even beyond the sanctuary, the entire church interior is meant to be a renewed expression of the glory of the Trinity and the dignity of God in man, and a sacramental to vividly nourish the human eschatological desire to dwell in the heavenly Jerusalem for eternity.