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| The main altar |
There are many elements of the Baroque, such as clear-pane sky windows above the altars allowing in unfiltered natural light. In fact, the design of the building makes a genuine contribution to the Baroque ascetic in the United States, featuring many and varied aspects of this unique genre that was born during the exuberant time of the Counter-Reformation (one of the most important periods in the life of the Church, by the way).
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| A copy of the famous Cristo della Minerva, a statue by Michelangelo |
The church takes its inspiration from various churches, including Rome's Sant'Andrea al Quirinale, a masterpiece of the Roman Baroque by Bernini. The main altar takes its inspiration from side altars of Santa Maria Assunta also by Bernini, located in Ariccia, Italy. The new church also includes a symphony of paintings, including four painted lunettes in the sanctuary with a painted ceiling on the barrel vault of the sanctuary, illumined by clerestory windows. The ceiling image is a unique compound image that depicts in its top register the Transfiguration of Our Lord, while also depicting in the lower register St. Peter, who was an eyewitness to the event of the Transfiguration.
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| The transept side altar and pulpit (on the right) |
Appended to the overall form are the necessary side chapels and confessionals, important components of the Counter-Reformation plan of evangelization and bestowal of grace. The facade shines with the words of Christ: "Behold Thy Mother" (John 19:26-27). The interior will have various words inscribed in both Latin and English. Below is an example of a side wall, with words taken from the Archangel Gabriel in the Magnificat (Luke 1:38). Above the main altar will be the Latin words: "Et Verbum Caro Factum Est" (John 1:14).
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| Side altars |
New churches like this have always been a key component of the Church's strategy to strengthen the Church on the local level. Donations are being accepted and the goal is to raise $10 million to complete the project. Hopefully the future will bring the possibility of a phase 2 of construction that will add other buildings to complement the campus of the growing community. For more information or to donate, please click here. Indeed, the beauty that will be passed on to generations with this landmark project will stir them to wonder for many years to come.
