Description of building
The church is named after an Irish nun named Ita who was a friend of St. Patrick.
It is 186 feet long, 70 feet wide, 95 feet high.
It is constructed of limestone.
It is patterned after the French gothic style.
The interior is made of oak
The flooring is French tile.
The altar stone is from northern Adriatic Sea.
The steps to the altar are made of marble.
The Cross is hand carved of pear wood.
There are 200,000 pieces of glass in 2800 sq. feet of window space.
The north windows depict St. Patrick's life, the titles of Mary and the Gospels.
The south windows depict the life of St. Ita and the Old Testament.
Above the altar is the Crucifixion.
The side altar windows depict important events in the life of Jesus and Mary.
The windows in the side alcoves at the front of the church are of the apostles.
Statutes are placed not only in the altar area, but around the church as well. They are as follows:
ST. ANNE AND MARY to the left of the altar.
ST. ITA behind the altar.
JESUS to the left of the altar.
MARY'S STATUE AND ALTAR -- the left small altar.
JOSEPH'S STATUE AND ALTAR -- the right small altar.
ST. THERESA -- north alcove.
ST. ANTHONY -- south alcove.
The statues , beginning at Mary's altar and going down the south wall,
across the back of the church and
up the north wall to Joseph's altar are as follows (as near as I can
discover):
PAUL
PETER
JUDE THADDEUS
ANDREW
MATTHEW
JOHN
PHILIP
BARTHOLOMEW
SIMON
JAMES (major)
MATTHIAS
JAMES (minor)
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE ...... NUESTRA SENORA DE LA CARIDAD DEL COBRE
THE ALTAR AREA
The ALTAR is in the center with the TABERNACLE off to the right side.
The LIGHT BURNING indicates the Presence of Christ in the Eucharist is being kept there for the distribution to the home bound and ill.
The BAPTISMAL FONT is in front of St. Joseph's statue and is moved off center for baptisms.
The LECTERN and cantor's seat are to the right side.
The chairs behind the altar are the celebrants and to the left is the space for the servers.
To the left and several pews down is the MAIN LECTERN from whence the gospel is read and the homilies are generally preached. It is raised so that the congregation could both see and hear before the advent of microphones.
The ALTAR RAIL once stretched across the entire front of the church. Now it is only in front of the side altars, as Communion is now received standing instead of kneeling.
In the back of the church on either side, are the CONFESSIONALS. In addition to the traditional form, confession can also be made face to face.
In the foyer of the church on the left/south side is a room holding the vestments. The priests robe here so as to lead the entrance processional from the back of the church through the congregation in symbolic uniting of the community.
The church can seat 1000 people very uncomfortably.
The choir loft is above and in the rear of the church. The organ
is 41 yr.. old and has 4500 pipes.
THE WINDOWS
I. SANCTUARY WINDOWS.
Each window section contains the main panel(s) in the lower portion
and smaller windows in the upper portion.
In general, the lower portions focus on one story and the upper portions
contain symbols of Christ. Beginning on the south/left side the panels
depict:
1. THE IMMACULATE
CONCEPTION
2. THE ANNUNCIATION
3. THE NATIVITY
4. THE PRESENTATION
IN THE TEMPLE
5. THE CRUCIFIXION
6. THE RESURRECTION
7. THE ASCENSION
8. PENTECOST
9. THE ASSUMPTION
AND CROWNING OF MARY, QUEEN OF HEAVEN
In the upper sections over all the windows are symbols of Christ:
1. CROWN OF THORNS.
2. NAILS
3. PILLAR AND LASH
4. SACRED HEART ENCIRCLED BY THORNS
5. LANCE AND SPONGE
6. CROSS AND SHEET
7. CLOAK AND DICE
8. LADDER
9. ROOSTER
10. INSCRIPTION
11. LANTERN
12. PHI-RHO SYMBOL
13. BAG OF SILVER
14. CHALICE AND HOST
15. WHEAT
16. GRAPES
17. ALPHA AND OMEGA
18. EUCHARIST SYMBOLS
TITLES OF MARY
In the arches above the windows above the side doors of the sanctuary
are symbols of different titles of
Mary:
SEAT OF WISDOM
HOUSE OF GOD
ARK OF THE COVENANT MIRROR OF JUSTICE
TOWER OF DAVID
FLOWERING ROD OF JESUS
GATE OF HEAVEN
THE CRUCIFIXION WINDOW.
There are many things to find in the main window over the altar.
In addition to the symbols mentioned
above, there are also the symbols of the 4 evangelists:
1. OX -- St. Luke -- the
Nativity story
2. ANGEL -- St. Matthew--incarnation/annunciation
opening to his gospel.
3. EAGLE -- St. John --
visionary who soared.
4. LION -- St. Mark -- story
of John the Baptist in the wilderness
The major figures in this
window are:
1. ANGELS IN ADORATION around
the cross.
2. MARY AND ST. JOHN at
the foot of the cross.
3. MARY MAGDELENE at the
foot of the cross.
4. MARY, CLEOPHAS, cousin,
at a distance (to the right)
5. THE SOLDIER WHO CONVERTED
AFTER SEEING JESUS DIE (on horseback)
6. PEOPLE IN THE BACKGROUND
representing those who turned against Jesus.
WINDOWS IN THE SIDE ALCOVES:
ST. ANTHONY
ST. THERESA
PETER
SIMON ZEALOT
ANDREW
JAMES (minor)
MATTHEW
JAMES (major)
JOHN
THOMAS
PHILIP
JUDE THADDEUS
BARTHOLOMEW MATTHIAS
The two windows at the front on either side. They are of St. Ita
and St. Patrick.
Use this diagram for both windows.
1
saint's
6
2
main
5
3
window
4
| ST. ITA'S WINDOW | ST. PATRICK'S WINDOW |
| 1. St. Ita as a girl praying. | 1. St. Patrick, swine herder, during Pict capture. |
| 2. St. Ita asking her father to help a beggar. | 2. St. Patrick inspired by angel, finds a treasure |
| 3. St. Ita enters the convent. | 3. St. Patrick is consecrated a bishop. |
| 4. St. Ita praying. | 4. St. Patrick drives the snakes out of Ireland. |
| 5. St. Ita giving alms to a beggar. | 5. St. Patrick destroys an invading army by prayer. |
| 6. St. Ita saying good bye to St. Brendan | 6. St. Patrick being tempted by the devil |
| Main window: St. Ita | Main window: St. Patrick |
For the remaining windows use the following diagram. The numbering
will be the same for each
window. The Scripture reference follows each description. Begin
at the first window to the left of St.
Ita's window. Proceed to the rear of the church, cross
and proceed back to the front of the church.
9 8
7
6 5
4
3 2
1
FIRST WINDOW
1. The creation of the world.
Gen. 1
2. Casting of Adam and Eve out of Eden.
Gen. 3
3. The Flood
Gen. 7
4. The Rainbow after the Flood.
Gen. 9
5. The Tower of Babel.
Gen. 11
6. Abraham being led by God.
Gen. 12
7. The high priest Melchisedech.
Gen. 14
8. Sodom and Gomorrah's destruction
Gen. 19
9. Isaac saved by an angel stopping Abraham
Gen. 22
SECOND WINDOW
1. Isaac and Rebecca.
Gen. 25
2. Isaac blesses Jacob.
Gen. 27
3. Jacob's dream.
Gen. 28
4. Joseph's dream.
Gen. 37
5. Joseph in Egypt.
Gen. 39
6. Moses in the river.
Ex. 2
7. Moses and the burning bush.
Ex. 3
8. Miriam, sister of Moses.
Num. 12
9. The passage through the Red Sea.
Ex. 14
THIRD WINDOW
1. The Israelites in the desert.
Ex. 15
2. Manna to feed the Israelites.
Ex. 16
3. The giving of the 10 Commandments.
Ex. 20
4. Moses breaking the tablets.
Ex. 32
5. Moses and Aaron in the temple.
Lev. 8
6. Aaron's rod turns to a serpent.
Ex. 7
7. Joshua stops the sun.
Josh. 10
8. Samuel and the High Priest, Eli
I Sam. 3
9. Death of the High Priest, Eli
I Sam. 4
FOURTH WINDOW
1. David and Goliath.
1 Sam. 17
2. Saul and David.
1 Sam. 18
3. King David.
2 Sam. 2
4. Absolom, David's son.
2 Sam. 18
5. Building the Temple.
1 Kgs. 6
6. Elijah supplied with food in the desert.
1 Kgs. 19
7. Elijah ascending into heaven on a fiery chariot.
3 Kgs. 2
8. Jonah and the whale.
Jon. 2
9. Tobias and the angel Raphael.
Tob. 6
FIFTH WINDOW
1. Judith kills Holophrenes.
Judith 13
2. Israelite Babylonian captivity.
2 Kgs. 25
3. Prophet Jeremiah.
Jeremiah
4. Daniel in the lion's den.
Dan. 6
5. Queen Esther in Persia.
Esther
6. The Macabees, sons of Mattathias.
1 Mac. 2
7. Mattathias, Father of Macabees.
1 Mac. 2
8. Judas Macabees.
1 Mac. 3
9. Zechariah and the angel.
Czech. 1-6
SIXTH WINDOW
1. Adoration of the Magi.
Matt. 2
2. Flight into Egypt by the Holy Family.
Matt. 2
3. Holy Family in Nazareth.
Matt. 2
4. John the Baptist.
Matt. 3
5. John baptizing our Lord.
Matt. 3
6. Temptation of Christ.
Matt. 4
7. Christ with the disciples.
Matt. 4
8. Wedding at Canna.
John 2
9. Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well.
John 4
SEVENTH WINDOW
1. Miraculous catch of fish.
Luke 5
2. Sermon on the Mount.
Matt. 5,6,7
3. Mary MAGDELENE washes the feet of Jesus.
Luke 7
4. The parable of the Sower and the seed.
Mark 4
5. Jesus stills the storm at sea.
Matt. 8
6. The raising of Jairus's daughter.
Mark 5
7. The beheading of John the Baptist.
Mark 6
8. The miracle of the fishes and loaves.
Matt. 15
9. Jesus walks on the water.
Matt. 14
EIGHTH WINDOW
1. Peter appointed the chief apostle.
Matt. 16
2. The Transfiguration.
Luke 9
3. Jesus and the children.
Luke 18
4. Parable of the Good Samaritan.
Luke 10
5. Parable of the Prodigal Son.
Luke 15
6. Parable of the Good Shepherd.
Matt. 18
7. Parable of Lazarus and Dives.
Luke 16
8. Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican.
Luke 18
9. Parable of the rich young man.
Luke 18
NINTH WINDOW
1. Lazarus raised from the dead.
John 11
2. Palm Sunday.
John 12
3. Render unto Caesar...
Matt. 22
4. Story of 10 Maidens.
Matt. 25
5. The Last Supper.
Luke 22
6. The agony in the garden.
John 17
7. Mary and the body of Christ.
John 19
8. Christ laid in the tomb.
John 19
9. Christ appears to St. Thomas.
John 20
TENTH WINDOW -- TITLES OF MARY
1. Queen of Angels.
2. Queen of Patriarchs.
3. Queen of Prophets.
4. Queen of Apostles.
5. Queen of Martyrs.
6. Queen of Confessors.
7. Queen of Maidens.
8. Our Lady Help of Christians.
9. Queen of the Holy Rosary.