ENVIRONMENT AND ART

Icons
Worship Space
Statues

Icons

The Processional Cross

This cross gets its design from the Jerusalem
cross.
Front
Back



St. Cecilia
Holy Family


The Worship Space
The Worship Space is designed to truly capture
the vision of the Second Vatican Council. The seating arrangement is called “antiphonal” seating. This type of arrangement was chosen based on the norms of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, which instructs that “The general plan of the sacred edifice should be such that in some way it conveys the image of the gathered assembly.” Here at St. Joseph the Worker, we believe that Christ – present in the people – reflects the image of who we are. Also, in the recent document of the U.S. Bishops, Built of Living Stone, the bishops have outlined the four elements in which Christ is present: the liturgical assembly, the priest, the Word of God, and the Sacrament. The Worship Space places appropriate emphasis where it is needed.

The Seating

The seating capacity is approximately 1000. Overflow in the Worship Space, Holy Family Chapel, and the Gathering Space would increase our seating. The basic seating arrangement of the Worship Space is called “antiphonal” seating. It is important in liturgy that we see one another worshipping together. This arrangement was also selected because at all times, when Sacred Scripture is proclaimed and the Eucharistic Prayer is being prayed, the “people of God” are always seen as a part of the liturgy; as part of the “action”.


The Baptismal Font

The baptismal font has been designed in the shape of a coffin for it is in Christ that we die to ourselves so that we may rise with him in new life. The rock, made of granite, at the front of the font was found right off of Hemlock Lane. The rock reminds us that baptism is the foundation of our faith. Out of this rock is honed a small pool which will be used for infant baptisms. The water of life pours over the rock into the larger pool, which will be used for adult and children's baptisms especially at the Easter Vigil.

Built into the end of the font is the holder for the Paschal Candle. This candle represents Christ, the light of the world. It is lit during the Easter Season, at funerals and baptisms and serves as a reminder that we have been given the light through the death of Jesus Christ.



The Ambo

The ambo is the place from which sacred Scripture is proclaimed. It is reserved solely for this purpose.

The base of the ambo is formed to resemble a trunk of a tree - the Tree of Life, symbolizing the roots we have in Hebrew and Christian Scripture. The roots of our ancestors stem as far back as the beginning of creation and the tree symbolizes an ever-present need to search deeper and deeper for refreshment from the Word of God.

The front of the ambo contains a place for displaying the Book of the Gospels after the Gospel has been proclaimed.Once the Word of God has been proclaimed, it is no longer contained in a book, but in our hearts, our minds, and our souls.



Book of the Gospels
This book contains the written Gospels proclaimed throughout the liturgical year. During the entrance procession it is placed on the altar to symbolize the unity between the Word and Sacrament. It is then processed to the ambo where it is opened and the Word is proclaimed to all.

The “living creatures” on the outside of the Book of the Gospels represent the four evangelists. Their symbols are taken from the prophecy of Ezekiel (1:5-21; 10:20). Of these same living creatures, borrowed by the Book of Revelation (4:6-8), St. Irenaeus says, “The lion signifies the royalty of Christ, the calf his priestly office, the man his incarnation and the eagle the grace of the Holy Spirit.”

As shown above:

John Apostle

John is called the rising eagle, since his gaze pierces so far into the mysteries of heaven and his version of the gospel begins with a lofty prologue that is a poem of the Word become flesh.

Luke Martyr

Luke is called the winged ox, since he deals with the sacrificial aspects of Christ's life and his version of the gospel begins with a temple scene.



Matthew Apostle and Martyr

Matthew is called the "divine man", since he teaches about the human nature of Christ and his version of the gospel begins with Jesus' paternal genealogy.


Mark Martyr

Mark is called the winged lion, since he informs us of the royal dignity of Christ and his version of the gospel begins: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness", suggesting the roar of the lion.


The Altar

The altar has been designed so that we are all gathered around the table of the Eucharist. Gathered as a family gathers for celebrations. We are a faith family who gathers at this table to celebrate the challenge of the mission of Jesus Christ.

The altar, too, has a base that resembles the trunk of a tree, the Tree of Life. Again, the tree symbolizes our roots, our connection with our history. Some trees produce nourishment for each of us to fill ourselves full. This Tree of Life, the tree upon which Christ was crucified, fills each of us with the Body and Blood of Christ.



The Presider's Chair

The presider's chair is located so that the priest may preside over the celebration. It is from this place that the priest leads the liturgical assembly in prayer.

The Rood

The rood, the freestanding "wall"behind the presider's chair, was designed so that the tabernacle could be visible when required yet not a part of the action of the liturgy. The rood is designed so that the processional cross, after being processed, fits in front of the cross cutout in the rood. When the processional cross is not in place, the tabernacle is visible upon entering the Worship Space. Through the cross cutout one can see the place of reservation and into the world around us. It is through the cross of Christ, filled with the Blessed Sacrament that we enter the world to live the mission of Jesus Christ.



The Ambry

The Ambry is the place where the Holy Oils are displayed. The oils here are: Sacred Chrism, the Oil of the Sick, and the Oil of the Catechumen. Sacred Chrism is used to anoint the crown of the infants after baptism and is placed on the forehead of those who receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Oil of the Sick is placed on the forehead and palms of those who receive the Anointing of the Sick. The Oil of the Catechumen is placed on the chest of those who are preparing for the Sacrament of Baptism.


The Ambry is made of the base of the tabernacle from the old Worship Space. The two marble carvings next to the Ambry are the bases of the altar from the old Worship Space. Putting the three carvings together recreates the "high" altar of the church in North Minneapolis. The three carvings are:

* IHS, which is the first letter of the three words,
  in Greek, of the title given to Jesus.
    - Iesus Hemeteros Soter, or Jesus, Savior of
      Humanity.
    - This is one of the earliest inscriptions of the
      church.

* A Lamb, in the middle, represents Christ, the
  suffering servant.
    - With the cross and the lamb reclining it
      signifies the wounded Christ.

* The pelican has long been a symbol of the
  Eucharist and redemption.
    - There is an ancient belief that the female
      pelican would rip open her breast to feed her
      young with her own life-blood to avert their
      starvation.
    - It is the ultimate symbol of self-sacrifice.



The Tabernacle

This tabernacle is the original tabernacle from the church in north Minneapolis. If has been refinished and slightly resized to accommodate its new location. It has been placed upon the old baptismal font sealing the connection between the Eucharist and Baptism.


Statues

St. Joseph the Worker (Gathering Area)


This statue of St. Joseph the Worker with Jesus was designed and created by Bramante Studios in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. It was designed and placed in the old gathering space prior to the building of the new Worship Space. It depicts Joseph teaching Jesus his trade, that of being a carpenter. For our community it is placed in the new gathering area to remind us that we too gather here each week to learn the “trade” of being disciples of Jesus. We also use it as the table for the gifts, which are presented during the Mass. This reminds us that the bread, “which earth has given and human hands have made… will become for us the bread of life.” And that the wine we offer is the “fruit of the vine and work of human hands [and] will become our spiritual drink.”



Statue of Jesus
Statue of Mary
Statue of
St. Joseph the Worker


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