This past Lent we prayed the Stations of the Cross in the church together during Lent in Spanish and English on Friday evenings. Prior to Lent’s beginning we realized that our images of the Stations of the Cross were in storage in the basement of the church. I consulted the Art and Environment Committee to see if they would be able to work at having the Stations cleaned up for Lent. I figured a little polish and some mounting nails and we’d be fine. Nothing’s ever that easy! What follows is a narrative that traces not only the path our images of the Stations have taken, but also the journey parishioner Ron Sneary made in bringing this project to completion–and like the Lord on his path outside the city of Jerusalem – with lots of different people involved along the way. My thanks to Ron, the Art & Environment members and all who were involved in this project. Fr. Shaun, OSFS The Way “Back around 342-420, St. Jerome witnessed how crowds of pilgrims from various countries would travel to Bethlehem to visit the holy places, in which tradition holds our Blessed Mother would visit daily the path of our Lord during his passion and death. This was known as ‘ The way of the Cross.’ This devotion grew in popularity, by 1462,an English pilgrim, William Wey visited the Holy Land and is credited with the term … ‘Stations of the Cross’” (from Fr. William Saunders book, Straight Answers). Moving ahead several centuries to St. Mary of Good Counsel Church; Fr. Shaun during his first few months at St. Mary’s inquired about the Stations of the Cross of the Art and Environment Committee. The history of our Stations is a bit sketchy, so it is with some hope that more parishioners may come forward with additional information about their origins in the future. What we do know from our resident historian, Dr. Richard Boff, is that our current stations were designed by a small group of Adrian Dominican Sisters and may have been part of an art project involving several Siena students. The stations were taken down during the last church renovation and stored in the church basement. Unfortunately they were placed in an unmarked cardboard carton that suffered from years of moisture and movement. With help of Fr. Shaun, I set out to inspect and remount the 14 Stations. In the course of almost a year, I learned a lot about “renovation, restoration, and preservation.” I would like to take this time to thank the number of people who have provided advise, research, resources and knowledge: The late John Wittersheim, Prof. at Siena Heights Univ.; Dawn Wallen-graduate from SHU; Christopher Reed-Adrian College; Ken Thompson-Flatlanders Sculpture Sr. Marcine Klemm and Sr. Nadine Foley-Adrian Dominican Sisters; as well as the following parishioners Charlie Southward, Lynn Myers, Cal DeLine, Dr. Richard Boff; Barb Sneary; Heather Spiegel; Brenda Sparkman; Lawrence Page; Fr. Shaun Lowery, O.S.F.S and Fr. Louie Komorowski. O.S.F.S. If I have forgotten anyone, please accept my apologies. For over 140 years, St. Mary of Good Counsel has been the spiritual home for thousands of Catholic Christians here in this community and the Stations of the Cross represent one aspect of how we give praise and thanksgiving to our Lord. Our Catholic faith is growing and changing with the times as is our parish family. We are a stewardship parish: your time, your talent and your treasures bring to light the beauty of who we are as vibrant, passionate parish family. Again, thank you to all, Ron Sneary
Posted on: Sat, 20 Jul 2013 12:23:53 +0000
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