St. John de Vianney

I've been watching this church since it was being built. Before they had this building, the congregation met at the elementary school that my children attended.

On bad days, I have thought it unattractive, and on good days, interesting. I like the huge windows.

That's Ruby in the striped shirt, and she gave me a tour. I will go back and take some pictures from the inside. I didn't, because I wasn't sure it would be respectful. The blocky front part in the picture is called the Day Chapel, and it's where they hold daily Mass. The back part, where the windows are, is a beautiful sanctuary. The altar is surrounded on three sides by pews, and there are six very old stained glass windows, some of which have inscriptions in Polish or Czech. I'm sorry that I can't distinguish between the two languages. The back (east) walls are floor-to-ceiling windows, showing little gardens with statues of St John de Vianney and St Theresa. The baptismal font is a huge block of granite that looked almost red in the dwindling light. All the interior appointments are sparse, blocky, and modern, except for the windows, which are like jewels, and an almost life-sized Crucifix. The Christ figure was carved from a fallen tree, and is mesmerizing. There is a knothole where the spear wound would be, and the grain is darker below, and looks like flowing blood. A very nice carving, where faith has supplied the inspiration.

I asked Ruby who St. John de Vianney was, as I had never heard of him, and I went to Catholic school before they dumped most of the Saints.

She told me that he was a simple Medieval man, who tried for years to become a priest. He was not smart enough to pass the tests. Eventually, his Bishop realized that the ability to pass a test was not the true measure of a man, and ordained John. However, he assigned him to a very small and isolated parish, for which John embarked on foot. Along the way, he got lost, and asked directions: "If you'll show me the way to Vianney," he said, "I'll show you the way to Heaven." Needless to say, he had a congregation in tow before he reached his destination.

I find it interesting that the church faces west.

Thank you, Ruby!