The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
St. Gabriel Church reveals new Risen Christ on Reredos Wall
Throughout the season of Lent, St. Gabriel Church in Concord Township has completed its five-year renovation of the church with an enhanced focus on the Risen Lord on the Reredos Wall (the back wall of the sanctuary).
This improvement will enable worshippers to remain encouraged and inspired by the image of the Risen Lord as the center of their faith, according to a release from the church. This renovation will be unveiled in time for the parish to celebrate the Resurrection at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, and will remain as the focal point of the main worship space of the church.
The five-year renovation project at St. Gabriel has been multi-faceted to include, new roof, kneelers, flooring, parking lot, and this final project crowns the place of worship with even greater beauty.
The original statue of the Risen Christ was constructed in 1984. The familiar statue is still in use and enhanced with a background redesigned to highlight the image more prominently.
The wall now ties in more with the outlining stain glass windows that depict Christ’s Crucifixion and His Second Coming. The three in conjunction portray the great Mystery of Faith: Christ has died, Christ has risen, and Christ will come again.
Lent is traditionally a building season to work on improvements from within, St. Gabriel also used the time for this construction period. The new image of the Risen Christ will be visible when people enter the church on Saturday, April 3 for Easter Vigil. Their pastoral staff is hopeful the new look will enhance the worship space and the experience of those coming to celebrate Mass and pray at St. Gabriel.
The Art and Environment Ministry of St. Gabriel led the effort and design collaborating with Precision Woodwork, Inc. which contributed to the design and constructed the project.
Fr. Fred Pausche, pastor of St. Gabriel said, “We are grateful to members of our Art and Environment Ministry for the design of the new wall; to Precision Woodwork, Inc, for the construction; and most importantly for the generosity and goodness of our people. The center of our faith is the Resurrection of Jesus. It is that faith that gives us hope in times of difficulty, Light in times of darkness, and the promise of New Life when we experience loss and death. May we never lose sight that the Risen Christ is always with us.”