Monday, November 23, 2015

Windows to the Past and Future of St. Cecilia's, Wisconsin Dells (Pt. 3 of 3)

St. Cecilia, patroness of sacred music, overlooked the choir loft for decades in Wisconsin Dells. On either side of the main window you can see icons associated with her. On the left, a harp for her musical significance, and to the right, palms, as she was also an early martyr for Christianity.

Arguably the highlight of my last visit to old St. Cecilia's was seeing the stained glass window display. Being very old and perhaps original components of the church building, they have been a visual highlight for parishioners and visitors for decades.


Of these windows, the most notable are the pair of large windows in the transepts of the old church, each depicting scenes that aren't commonly seen in church artwork. Located where rose windows are commonly found at the sides of the church, these windows area a larger alternative.

Detail of an angel proclaiming the Nativity of Christ to the shepherds.

 
Left: Depiction of The Guardian Angel, originally a Bernhard Plockhorst painting.[1]
Right: St. Michael the Archangel defeating Satan.


The second of the two large windows, showing the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden.


 
These side windows, from near the sacristy depict a pair of the sacraments, baptism and communion respectively.

St. Patrick


 

These windows were underneath the choir loft.

With the new church well into construction, it is wonderful to say that practically all of these windows will be installed in the new church. Due to open in late 2016, you can follow along in the construction process through both St Cecilia's parish social media and the Diocese of Madison's Catholic Herald. If I am in still in the area when it opens, you can bet I will be back with my camera!

Links on St. Cecilia's:
"New St. Cecilia Church in Wisconsin Dells", Catholic Herald, written by a good friend of mine, Kevin Wondrash.
Facebook page: "St. Cecilia Catholic Church"



St. Cecilia Catholic Church

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Coming Soon!: Part 3 of old St. Cecilia Catholic Church, Wisconsin Dells


While today is St. Cecilia's feast day, I think it's worth sharing the news that the last part of my three-part series on the recently-demolished St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Wisconsin Dells will be published tomorrow! For now, enjoy this close-up of St. Patrick from the church.


St. Cecilia Catholic Church

Friday, November 13, 2015

They Say it's Your Birthday...St. Augustine of Hippo


St. Augustine has earned a lot of notoriety through history. Known in his early days as a bit of a womanizer, he eventually grew into his faith, became a bishop, an author who commands respect of literature scholars even today, and of course, a Saint of the Catholic Church.

Heck, he is even the subject of a Bob Dylan song. Anyone recall I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine?

Today marks the 1661th anniversary of his birth (that's 354 AD for you non-mathematicians out there)[1].


St. Cecilia Catholic Church
http://www.dellscatholic.com/


Additional Sources:
*Also thanks to the Beatles for inspiration for the title of this post.