A GREAT WAY TO HIDE THE TABERNACLE DURING THE CELEBRATION OF MASS BUT TO SHOW THE TABERNACLE AT ALL OTHER TIMES…

 Rambusch and Company completely renovated or wreckovated Saint Teresa’s Church in Albany, Georgia when I was assigned there as a newly ordained Associate Pastor as we were called way back then. The renovation took place between two pastors, between 1981 and 1982. 

I was assigned there from 1980 to 1985. 

The abstract windows, but filled with color, had religious symbolism but it had to be explained by the Trappist monk, Fr. Methodius of the Trappist Monastery of the Holy Spirit outside of Atlanta, who designed and installed them. These were controversial at the time, some loved them, others disliked them but everyone loved the vibrant colors. The previous windows were a 1950’s golden translucent fiberglass with circular wood chips embedded in it, but quite worn out by the sun by 1980!

Love them or hate them, these were expensive works of art as was the tabernacle reredos created by Rambusch. 

The Rambusch designed  reredos had beautiful bronze sliding doors to hide the tabernacle, designed by them also, from the congregation during Mass. These were opened after Mass so that tabernacle could be viewed from the nave of the Church for prayer. The Church was opened almost 24 hours a day at that time. 

There was a little private prayer area behind the reredos where the tabernacle was in full view. The tabernacle was quite beautiful too and a work of art. But few chose to use this chapel. However, during Mass, one had to go behind the modern reredos to repose the Blessed Sacrament not consumed during Mass. But there were doors on both sides of the tabernacle so that it could be accessed from the other side when the sliding doors were opened. 

In subsequent renovations of the church in the late 2000’s, the windows were removed for something more traditional looking and an old altar reredos from a closed chapel replaced the Rambusch reredos and tabernacle. Thus the new tabernacle in an old altar is out there even during Mass.

If I would design a new reredos for a new Church today, I would make it look more traditional so that the six candlesticks had a shelf to flank the reredos on either side but maintain the sliding doors to hide the tabernacle during the celebration of Mass. 

Nonetheless, I loved the Rambusch reredos as I felt that it and the abstract windows fit the 1950’s A-Framed church very well and complemented the austere look of the building and did not impose a more dressy traditional look not integrated with the 1950’s modern style of the building. 

Just my two cents. What do you think about this way to hide the tabernacle during Mass?