ST
AILBE HOME PAGE
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You can find
more information on all the artifacts that can
be found in St. Ailbe Church, by just clicking
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St. Ailbe Archives.
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ST AILBE
WINDOWS
by Deacon Bruce McElrath |
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Art
is in the eye of the beholder. To Some the
Picasso statue located in the Daley Center is
ridiculous and should not be considered art and
Leonardo Di Vinci’s famous “Mona Lisa’ is
not worth all the hoopla. Perhaps art that has
no reason or explanation makes us feel this way.
I am saying this, to
say, all
of the furnishings and every piece of Art in St.
Ailbe Church has been created with a very
special meaning
and that I am honored to interpret some of
reasoning used in the production of the St
Ailbe Stained Glass Windows.
Our
stained glass windows are very special. They are
the only stained glass windows of their style,
design and mode in existence. These stained glass
windows contain some of the most unusual
qualities and unique traits ever developed in
stain glass windows.
Upon
looking at the windows the most notable objects
are the palm trees. The palm tree
was picked because we
the church, the artists, wanted to
express the fact that the church is a
refreshing, invigorating, stimulating and
resourceful location. The palm tree is
synonymous with food, water and a wonderful
resting place of peace and tranquility. In
addition, the palm tree is the most mentioned
tree
in the Bible: this allows us to feel a
deep and
essential cohesiveness with our church
and scripture.
The
background of the palm trees on the south wall
is cast in blue color, while the background of
the palm trees on the north wall is cast in
white.
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Sunlight
enters the Church from the South and a more
colorful atmosphere is produced in the
Church from this blue background on the
south windows.
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On
the north windows there is a need to receive
as much light into the sanctuary as
possible, thus the white crystal glass
background. Our altar is located on the
north wall of the Church and we wanted all
attention to be focused toward the altar and
because these stained glass windows have a
white background they are somewhat more
subdued
The
base of all the stained glass windows throughout
the sanctuary the blue swirls of glass represents a
river. This blue glass enclosure throughout the
entire sanctuary is directed toward the altar.
This display can be interpreted as the river of
life begins and terminates at the altar.
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Many
of the symbols displayed in the stained glass windows
are symbolic of our devotion and praise. At the top of
each of the center stained glass windows are symbols
that represent the sacraments of the Church.
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The
first stained glass window - there is a
placement of a dove – the Sacrament of Baptism
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The
second window has a heart and a encircled
cross – the Sacrament of Reconciliation
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The
third window has a chalice with a host
hovering over it – The Sacrament of the
Eucharist.
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The
fourth window
has a bishop’s miter hat – The Sacrament
of Confirmation.
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The
fifth window has a glass jar with a cross on
it and a cross inside of the circle- the Sacrament
of Anointing and Healing the Sick.
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The
sixth window has two hearts accompanied by
a cross – the Sacrament of Matrimony.
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The
seventh window two raised hands between a
cross – the Sacrament of the Holy Orders
There
are inserts of a heart on the stained glass windows –
the sacred heart.
There are faces of angles with wings at the top of the
stained glass windows
On the first and eighth stained glass windows on the
south wall there are four gold medallions surrounding a
cross. When the sunlight strikes the gold medallion it
produces a beam of light that is projected toward the
altar.
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We
are truly a blessed multi culture worshipping family of
God.
Included
in the stained glass windows are symbols that represent
the many cultures that worship at St. Ailbe Church.
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There
is symbol of the Spanish culture in a pane of
stained glass which represent the Mexican calendar
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The
Haitian culture is represented in a stained glass
window which contains the national colors of
Haiti.
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There
are several panes of stained glass which display the
colors which are significant to several African
cultures.
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There are several glass panes which are
representative of the European ancestry.
The
stained glass windows located in the tabernacle area
cast a
predominately blue tin in the room. This was done to
provide an atmosphere of cool calm tranquility. It is
hoped that this ambiance enhances our prayer time before
the Blessed Sacrament.
At
the top of each stained glass window in the tabernacle
are brilliant stars. These stars are exact replicas of
the stars displayed on our screen of Creation, which
separates the tabernacle from the sanctuary.
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The Gift
With the addition of our stained glass windows we have
developed a theme. SOME WILL SEE IT AND SOME WILL NOT.
On the narthex's west wall, above the stairs leading to
Harper Avenue there are six stained glass windows. These
windows were given to St. Ailbe Church as a gift by the
talented artist and creators of the windows – David
Csicsko and David Conway.
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The
stained glass windows are composed of glass from
domestic and foreign manufacturing factories.
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Much
of the blue and green colored glass is from West
Virginia and Kokomo, IN.
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The
white colored crystals are called poured jewels.
They were located
and imported from Germany.
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There
are several pieces of heated glass that were
obtained from England
and were sliced and polished prior to being
installed in the windows.
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The
very colorful red glass, which will change patterns
when subjected to sunlight was obtained from Seattle
WA
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The
colorful glass roundels were obtained from Italy.
They were polished and installed in the larger
stained glass windows in the Chicago area studio.
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ST
AILBE HOME PAGE
You can find more
information on
all the artifacts that can be found in St. Ailbe Church,
by just clicking on
St. Ailbe Archives.
|
|
|
Deacon
Bruce McElrath |
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THE
ARTIST
DAVID CSICSKO AND DAVID CONWAY
The
most talented David Csicsko a great artist whose
inspiration and dedication is unparallel designed our
stained glass windows. He has devoted many days and
evening to the development of the windows. David
Csicsko’s work is on display in many area studios,
businesses and museums.
The
assembly of the stained glass windows took place in the
studio of David Conway. He supervised and partook in the
polishing, fusion and sketching of the windows. David
Conway is a Chicago area artist whose works are
displayed in numerous Churches, exclusive residences and
public buildings.
We
are truly blessed to have found such a devoted and
aspiring artist who displays such a wonderful
partnership that produced a dynamic and beautiful work
of art. These men have truly been blessed by God to have
perceived the dream, performed the work and finally
produced this wonderful and glorious edifice to our
awesome and powerful God.
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