St. Mary Art

Art & Architecture - St. Mary of the Annunciation Parish

The information on this page is to share the artistic expressions and design elements of the church at St. Mary of the Annunciation which was dedicated on April 14, 2002.

Pastor Fr. Ron Lewinski, who led the building of the new church, understood that a church building, as a place to praise God, celebrate our salvation, and inspire active disciples, is greatly enhanced through beautiful art. St. Mary’s Church is a living testimony to his vision, from the symbolism embedded into its architectural design to the many pieces of art spread throughout the worship space.

Art has the power to move our hearts, minds and souls. From the hand-carved Italian statues, to African tapestries, and the beautiful tabernacle from Madrid, St. Mary displays many beautiful pieces of fine art throughout the parish campus that help to inspire us to live our faith more completely. Find more about the art at St. Mary by scrolling below.

The Art of St. Mary of the Annunciation

Annunciation Statue

The newest addition to the collection of art at St. Mary is a bronze statue depicting the Annunciation by sculptor Timothy Schmalz created to celebrate Mary and her “yes” to God. A statue of Mary and Gabriel for the plaza by the main entrance had always been part of the original plan when our church was built. The beautiful new statue stands at the front doors to the church to greet all who enter the parish.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux Statue

The statue of St. Thérèse stands at the back of the church facing the altar. Crafted by Italian woodcarver Andreas Comploji, it features a life-size representation of the young French Carmelite nun from Liseux, France (1873-1897). The artist depicted her holding roses because St. Thérèse described herself as the smallest of flowers in God’s heavenly garden. This led to her nickname of “The Little Flower.”

Shrine of the Good Shepherd

Look for this Shrine to the left of the altar (as you are facing the altar), around the corner from the organ and choir. The Good Shepherd shrine is designed with our children in mind. It is intended to be a place in the church which they can claim as their own devotional space and has child-sized chairs and kneelers. The tapestry hanging on the wall is a reproduction on fabric of original artwork by Martin Erspamer, OSB.

Epiphany Tapestries

Above the baptismal font and rising high above the doors are three hand-woven tapestries. The theme for the colorful tapestries is taken from the antiphon from Morning Prayer for the Feast of the Epiphany. They were woven at the Vukuzenzele Weaving Centre in South Africa by artist Anastasia Minisi who crafted the design to remind the worshipper of our communion with the Catholic community around the world.

St. Peregrine

St. Peregrine, the patron saint of cancer patients, is depicted in a life-size statue on the rear right side of the sanctuary upon entering the worship space. Crafted by wood carver Andreas Comploj of St. Ulrich, Italy, and surrounded by candles, this is a sacred prayer space for those suffering from illnesses and for those praying for loved ones.

Saint Joseph Statue

Find this statue off the southeast end of the narthex, near the entrance to the parish offices. The location of this shrine outside of the offices signifies that those who labor within are, like St. Joseph, working for the greater good of the Lord’s church. There is another St. Joseph statue in the changeable devotional/shrine area on the northwest wall near the votive candles.

The Altar Cross

Look on the altar at the front of the church for the beautiful cross. The imposing cross in the sanctuary is polished brass, silver and blue enamel, with the images of the four evangelists in colored enamel. The wooden crucifix that is affixed to the metal cross can be removed and carried in procession. The cross and crucifix were made in Madrid, Spain, by Granda Liturgical Arts.

Tabernacle

On the face of the tabernacle we see Christ in triumph and glory surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists with panels depicting multiple scriptural events. The Tabernacle is silver and gold leaf and fabricated in Madrid, Spain. Note the matching candle stand to the right of the tabernacle which holds a sanctuary lamp.

Infant of Prague

In a niche on the right rear wall, there is a shrine to the Infant of Prague. This statue was carved in St. Ulrich, Italy by Andreas Comploj. It is made of Lindenwood and finished in natural nut tones. The statue of the Infant Christ was brought to Prague by Princess Maria in 1555 when she was promised in marriage to a Czech nobleman. Click the button to read more.

Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross are located in the ambulatory attached to the columns inside the church worship space. They are the artwork of Wiktor Szostalo of St. Louis, MO and are hand-painted cold cast bronze. The Stations of the Cross as we know them in our churches are a “poor Man’s” pilgrimage to the Holy City where Jesus walked to Calvary. Stations are especially prayed during the Lenten season.

Sanctuary Cross and Candles

Twelve iron crosses and candles flank the perimeter of the sanctuary, marking the locations of the church where Francis Cardinal George anointed the walls with holy chrism oil at the church dedication. Both the wall-mounted iron candlesticks and the freestanding iron candlesticks on the altar were hand-forged by Doug Hendrickson, a blacksmith at Peola Valley Forge in Lesterville, MO.

Stained Glass Window

The window can be found to the right of the altar at the entrance to the Eucharistic Chapel. It was designed by Dirk Lohan and fabricated by Botti Studio in Evanston, IL. It reminds us that it is from the wheat of the fields that bread is made by human hands and then during Mass by the power of the Holy Spirit this bread becomes the Bread of Eternal Life. Click button below for more.

Baptismal Font

St. Mary’s baptismal font is placed prominently at the entrance to the sanctuary as a reminder of our baptism that initiated us into the Church, the mystical Body of Christ. Viewing the baptismal font from the front of the sanctuary facing the exit, you can particularly notice that the font takes on a tomb-like shape. The font is constructed of solid Carnelian granite, quarried in Millbank, South Dakota. Read more below.

Altar

The Altar is the focal point of the church and is the symbol of Christ in our midst. The altar stands under a canopy, which is the continuation of the steeple above. Even from the exterior one understands the focal point in the church. Thus, when we enter the church, we bow before the altar and the priest who presides kisses the altar. To read more about this architectural feature click the button below.

Ceremonial Doors

The large wooden ceremonial doors leading from the narthex to the sanctuary were designed to mark the threshold into a sacred place where heaven and earth intersect. The doors are eleven feet high, weigh 500 pounds each, and are made of complementary woods in a pattern suggestive of a labyrinth. On the day of the church dedication, pastor Fr. Ron Lewinski, “unlocked” the ceremonial doors allowing the church to process with great rejoicing into the church.

Sanctuary

Seating for the assembly in the sanctuary was designed to embrace multiple sides of the altar, emphasizing the active participation of all the faithful. By virtue of our baptismal priesthood, there are no spectators at liturgy. The pews are made of solid oak butcher block with padded cushions. There are 16 rows of pews down the center aisle. During daytime liturgies, natural light comes from many directions, playfully or mysteriously decorating the interior.

Meditation Garden

On the north side of the church is a small plaza with meandering pathways paved and a lush garden of perennial plants and trees. This green scape welcomes parishioners as they proceed to the worship space, anchors the building in its landscape, connects the worship space to the neighboring pastures, and serves as an ideal place for quiet meditation. Click below for more.

Pipe Organ

Behind the altar, the Fisher Family Memorial Pipe Organ speaks freely into the sanctuary. This magnificent custom-designed, hand-crafted instrument was designed by Timothy Boles of H.A. Howells Pipe Organs of Sterling, IL and completed by R. Karstens Organ Works, Ltd. of Columbus, Ohio. The organ was designed in the American Classic Style. Click below to read more.

Church Design Features

One of the most striking features of the church is the high nave that cuts across the main body of the church at a subtle angle, creating an asymmetrical room. This extends through the narthex and into the pastoral center. Rising 50 feet above the floor, the nave is a strong defining element that draws the entire structure into a unified plan. Click below to read more.

Church Narthex

The narthex or gathering space is an approximately 4,000 square foot room whose north and south walls are made entirely of glass. This light–drenched space is truly the crossroads of the parish where parishioners enter and exit the church plus socialize with one another before and after Mass. Click below to read more.

Bell Tower

St. Mary’s sleek, modern bell tower houses four bronze bells that ring with a strong peal to call the faithful to worship. The bell tower was added to the church campus in 2013, eleven years after the dedication of the new church, and was made possible by the generosity of parishioners Ted and Tina Godek. Click button below to read more.

The Building of St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church

In this video, parishioners and staff members explain some of the purposeful architecture and design of our new Church that was completed in 2002.

Video Link

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