April 29, 2009

Christian story told in symbols throughout renovated church

By Anna Marie Basquez

NORTHGLENN—Cathedral influences from pilgrimages to Rome, Spain and other European destinations by parishioners at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church are reflected in some of the symbols of the recently renovated church.

After a year of being closed, the main church reopened to the public with a dedication in late March and officially opened on April 5, Palm Sunday. Recent Masses have since been best described as “packed.”

Inside, the most obvious signs of Italy might be the statues of Mary to the right of the altar and of Joseph and Jesus to the left, both carved by a craftsman from Northern Italy. Another obvious sign is the new adoration chapel, likened to European basilicas that have chapels off to the side.

As people first toured the church at 11385 Grant Drive, tour guides explained the not-so-obvious new symbolism.

Below is a by-the-symbols rundown of some of the features of the newly renovated church.

The stairs
The stairs leading up to the church after entering the front main door symbolize the 12 tribes of Israel that were often called to go up to Jerusalem.
They are inscribed with the words of Christ: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn 14:6).

The Trinity
The trinitarian circular shapes of stairs, flooring, arches and walls surround three areas—the adoration chapel, the church’s front entrance and the new Morning Star coffee shop area. This trinitarian interior represents the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, said David Pipp, director of evangelization at the parish, who also chose many of the scriptural sayings just outside the church.

The pastor, Father Greg Ames, pointed it out as one of his favorite symbols.

“That, to me, is saying you’re always embraced by the Holy Trinity,” Father Ames said.

Pipp said what people receive inside the church is then to be delivered to the world conveyed by the large windows and exit doors near the coffee shop, which also host inscriptions of Scripture near them.

Confessional door handles
A bronze serpent snakes the door handle on the outside of each of the two confessionals. A dove, symbolizing the Holy Spirit, is what those leaving confession will touch last.

“You’re still holding onto sin when you go in,” Pipp explained. “You’re freed through the power of the Holy Spirit as you are exiting.”

Water-patterned glass
A customized glass is in the confessionals, with a water pattern inside.

“We’re cleansed through baptismal water,” said Pipp. “We’re cleansed through confessions as well.”
 
Sand-colored granite and marble
Much of the marble leading toward the baptismal area and the altar itself symbolize being in a desert. It’s cue, Pipp said, was taken from many European churches. The Columbo granite also serves as a reminder.

“It’s this sand color that calls our mind back to that idea that we can always find ourselves in the desert,” said Pipp. “But it’s also what leads us back to Christ.”

Water-patterned blue carpet
The desert color scheme in the granite and marble leads straight to the altar and to the tabernacle. It also touches the blue, water-patterned carpeting.

“The reason why we chose this carpet is, it has this wavy pattern,” Pipp said, adding that the pattern serves to remind people that water is used in baptism to show that through the sacrament, one is cleansed—forgiven—of their sins.

The cloister walk
The connecting indoor hallway between the parish facilities and the church itself is a popular and often-used new route, said Linda Kalkhorst, parish administrator.

“Before, there didn’t seem to be a reason to walk between the two. Now, there is,” she said.

Kalkhorst, who went on the parish’s pilgrimage to Rome and Spain in 2006, said the walkway is reminiscent of abbeys and monasteries visited on the journey.

The baptismal font
The new baptismal font is themed after the inside altar of the church made with the same type of granite and with a similar split feature in the structure. It has a line of darker reddened marble to symbolize blood on one side as does the floor along the main doors to the church. 

Surprise symbol: the keyhole
One symbol showed up beyond plans written by design teams. Namely, what the church officials call “the keyhole.”

“Father kept saying, ‘I want to put keys to the kingdom in here somewhere,’ but he didn’t know how he was going to do it,” Kalkhorst said.

One of the six pillars that hold up the church, and is now inside the church proper, was once a brick problem the committee didn’t know what to do with. They placed sand granite on it and planned the baptismal font at one end. The carpet was put in and as officials looked down at the blueprints, they saw something curious: a keyhole.

“It’s the idea of St. Peter holding the keys,” Pipp said.