This church in the Saint Louis Archdiocese, prior to its renovation, looks somewhat similar to the a-frame church I grew up attending in Augusta. My first priestly assignment in Albany, Georgia had a 1950's a-frame church building too, although of better quality and a higher roof line.
It is amazing what can be done with a barn like building:
Before:
After:
14 comments:
They even installed stained glass to blunt the appearance of a cross between Noah's ark and a widebody Airbus.
Largely driven by younger Latin Mass attendees, it seems, and a priest who wanted something beautiful.
https://www.archstl.org/sanctuary-makeover-is-an-extraordinary-work-of-art-for-ofallon-parish-714
The building seems to convey a warm and inviting feeling. The new flooring and lighting fixtures seem quite nice. Hopefully the flooring results in a high quality acoustical space.
The barque of Peter approach seem quaint, but does it cause concern the ship often appears to have capsized?
Unfortunately it seems some (much?) of the remodeling was undertaken without proper diocesan approval and in direct contradiction to the directives of the ordinary.
-RF
This made my day!
RF, the lauding story link I posted was from the archdiocese website. You have a link to a story regarding the archdiocese being displeased?
Nevermind....found a couple...sigh...
https://showmecatholics.org/2021/04/30/how-to-close-a-self-sufficient-parish-while-saying-that-youre-not/
https://showmecatholics.org/2021/05/04/another-holy-priest-under-attack/
well unknown, seems the "ordinary" blessed it didn't he!
it is one heck of an improvement and from the article it seems most of it was used material repurposed and or repainted, probably quite economical.
Kudos to them
BTW LOVE THE FLOOR
Seems the ordinary blessed it, then forced a transfer/retire option on the priest with 95yr old mother living on parish grounds, and he retired and the daily Mass/Confession parish now gets only a weekly visiting priest. Just lovely.
I have neither the time nor the inclination to review/understand the politics behind/accompanying this renovation.
At face value, it's beautiful. No question. Properly oriented and reverent. I hope they enjoy their renovated space. The pre-renovation church, relative to so many from the era, was not that bad either.
The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy clearly states that the altar should be freestanding whenever possible so you can walk round and incense it - how does this “renovation” comply?
The altar is freestanding and the bishop clearly behind it annointing its surface in the photos. Nice try. Missed it by THAT much.
Chris Wren Kavanaugh,
The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy also states a pastor is to see to it that his congregation can sing the Latin chants proper to them. Have YOU done that?
Anon TJM 9:17 - Alas, but as usual, you ignore the implementation documents for the Constitution. That's like having a car but ignoring the oil, gas, tire rotation, etc.
You see, the implementation documents give the bishops' conferences the right and responsibility to determine how the Constitution is applied in their respective territories.
Now you know.
Mike, can you provide a link to these 'implementation documents'? Of course we have Paul VI's Motu Proprio 'Sanctam Liturgiam' of January 1964 which established the Consilium and anticipated 'Inter Oecumenici' which appeared later that year; we also have 'Tres Abhinc Annos' issued in 1967.
However, I can't find anything that specifically empowers national episcopal conferences in the way you suggest. Of course, when it came to vernacular translations they could determine their nature and permissible extent (subject to approval from the Holy See). From 1965 England and Ireland did not use the same translation, and the version used in the USA was different again.
But for conferences to mandate some recommendations which were not instructions (e.g. free-standing altars) would appear to exceed their remit. I read somewhere that the US bishops wanted to make the vernacular mandatory but were overruled by Rome, but I can't locate the source - perhaps someone can?
John, as the blog owner is wont to say, "Do your homework."
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