~ A TOUR OF SAINT MALACHY CHURCH ~

Churchgoers properly immersed in the liturgy may not notice the details of the architecture and decorations around them, but any church which is both unique and rich in symbolism is worth a separate visit just to look at and appreciate these features. St. Malachy Church is one such structure. It is so unique that when it was new it was awarded the Honorable Mention prize in an international architectural competition.

Explanations of symbolism in this tour come from the architect, Mr. Daniel F. Tully.

Eternity is symbolized by the parabola and hyperbola, mathematical curves which stretch to infinity. They are a recurring theme in the exterior design and also within the church.

The surface shape of the roof and supporting walls is a hyperbolic paraboloid, which gives the structure its strength. This view shows the front end and the driveway side of the church, as seen from the street.

On the rooftop a large transparent dome admits sky light into the sanctuary area, symbolizing the Light from on high. The three-pronged spire crowning the dome represents the Holy Trinity.

Windows along the church walls echo the larger curves of the exterior. This window shines with rich colors of sunlight filtered through rough-cut stained glass set in elipses. Glass for the church was imported from Holland.

A medley of curves fills this view from behind the sanctuary area looking toward the street. On this side of the glass dividing wall is the chapel. Beyond is the main part of the church.

The partition is made of wood-framed etched glass. In the etched design the upper segment represents the Old Testament, the prophets and the law of the Ten Commandments. The lower part symbolizes the four Evangelists of the New Testament - the ox as Luke, the eagle as John, the man as Mark and the lion as Matthew. The shining communion host in the center represents the Eucharistic Christ, transcending both time and geometric space as the Savior of the world.

On the front of the partition, toward the sides, stand these statues of Mary the Mother of God, and her spouse Saint Joseph. The signature on these wood carvings is C. Pizzano.

Here is a room of memories. When the church was new this room looking out on the altar was the choir loft. Hiding the organ and choir in here during Mass permitted musical accompaniment without visual distraction. After the musicians were welcomed out onto the altar platform, glass was installed in the openings and it became the crying room. Later, crying infants were welcomed into the congregation during Mass and it was converted into a general-purpose meeting room.

Looking into the chapel we see its end wall and entrance door. The short wall screening the rear parking lot from view is the setting for a small shrine to Our Lady.

Mounted on the shrine wall is the miraculous image of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. The original was brought from Cyprus to Rome in the 15th century, and may be seen there today in the Church of San Alfonso. Our first pastor purchased this copy in Europe and donated it to St. Malachy Parish. It is a painting on glass.

We fly to your patronage, O Holy Mother of God:
despise not our petitions in our necessities,
but deliver us always from all dangers,
O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.

-- the "Sub Tuum," a 3rd century prayer to Mary

Between the entrance doors of the main church, a short passageway leads out to a separate structure which was originally the baptistry. Since Baptism is the sacrament of initiation or entrance into the Church, the baptistry was placed somewhat outside the main part of the church, and down two steps so that a newly baptized person would "climb up" into membership. Baptisms today are performed in front of the people.

The central stained-glass window in the old baptistry depicts the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. Higher up on the window (see previous picture) the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove appears, descending on Jesus.

Walking down the side aisle towards the sanctuary area takes us past the Stations of the Cross, made of painted-glass. In this picture we see the seventh station, at which Jesus falls the second time.

Over the Eucharistic Table in the main church hangs this Crucifix which was installed during church renovation in the late 1980s.

Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus while before your face I humbly kneel and, with burning soul, pray and beseech You to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope, and charity; true contrition for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment. ...While I contemplate with great love and tender pity your five most precious wounds, pondering over them within me and calling to mind the words which David, your prophet, said of You, my Jesus: "They have pierced my hands and my feet, they have numbered all my bones."

Off to one side in the chapel our tabernacle sits suspended at the focal point of a parabola. The tabernacle holds the sacrificial Lamb of God - the Body of Jesus Christ - in the form of consecrated bread.

This ends our picture tour. We hope it may expand your appreciation of Saint Malachy Church.