September 2, 2009

New church doors mark Greeley church’s 100 years

 On June 27 Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley celebrated Mass to honor the 100th anniversary of St. Peter Church in Greeley, part of a yearlong celebration to acknowledge the milestone.  Other events held throughout the year have included dances, dinners and the creation of new front doors for the church.

During a meeting of the anniversary planning committee at St. Peter’s, the suggestion was put forth by pastor Father Rocco Porter that an appropriate way to mark the occasion would be to create new church doors, according to anniversary committee member Agnes Schmerge.

“We had a selection committee go over several possibilities,” Schmerge said.  “They eventually chose Longmont artist Mario Miguel Echevarria who created the work.”

Echevarria’s design shows Christ giving the keys of the Church to St. Peter.

The 7-foot-high, 135-pound doors are done in bas-relief, a style in which the sculptured artwork is raised from the surrounding surface. 

The artwork is made of high-fire ceramic tiles covered with an acrylic-based metallic coating.  The doors were dedicated on New Year’s Eve during an anticipated Mass of the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. They have been a point of pride to parishioners since their unveiling.