Our Sanctuary
A Sacred Place
Our present sanctuary, built to accommodate the growing membership, was designed by the architectural firm of Woolen, Molzan and Partners, Kalevi Huotilainen and Kevin Huse, architects, and dedicated during its first liturgical service on December 20, 1992.
Our church building is a symbol of the people who built it, God’s living stones. The features of this building represent the decisions of parishioners who worked together to interpret the needs and preferences of the Parish, in keeping with current liturgical guidelines.
The Narthex entrance to St. Monica was designed to provide a spacious, hospitable gathering area for our community to use before and after Masses. The gathering space was a primary feature identified by parishioners as very important to our community. At the Narthex entrance to the Sanctuary, the flowing water of the baptismal font reminds each person entering the church of our commitment as Christians. It is symbolically placed at the entrance to the church where our lives as Christians begin. The stained glass panel in the window overlooking the courtyard depicts the symbols of baptism and confirmation.
Our sanctuary is where the parish family gathers to hear the Word of God, to offer prayers individually and together, and to celebrate the holy mysteries of the Mass. Seating in the main sanctuary is curved to bring the altar closer to the people. In the Daily Chapel, across the Narthex, seating also encircles the altar. This emphasizes our unity as a parish and the centrality of Eucharist in our lives. The sanctuary will seat 780 people.
The altar is the center of the church, the stone upon which is offered the sacrifice of the Mass, as Christ is the center of our lives and the foundation of our faith. Our altar includes a white marble slab that holds relics of Saints Boniface and Bonono as a physical reminder of our communion with all Christians through the ages and especially of those in heaven who pray for us. (We know that St. Boniface was from England and was an apostle to Germany, where he was martyred. We have not been able to find out the history of St. Bonono, but we revere him as an example of the “unsung saints” among us whom we encounter every day.) The surface of the stone is etched with five crosses to remind us of the wounds of Christ. The celebrant kisses this stone at the opening of each Mass. The altar area was designed with ramps to be accessible to priests and parishioners who are physically handicapped. Over the altar, four windows form a cross to remind us of the four Gospels and of Christ’s directive to his disciples: Go forth and spread the Gospel to the four corners of the world.
The Cross is a basic Christian symbol and is prominent in church architecture, art, rites, and traditions. Carried in processions, it is a reminder of Christ’s death and resurrection, of his invitation to his followers to pick up the cross and follow him. In our sanctuary, the large carved, wooden crucifix over the main entrance opposite the altar was donated by charter members of the parish, for the original St. Monica sanctuary.
The organ for the main sanctuary was designed by Tom Magee of the Rodgers Classic Organs in Indianapolis, and built in Hillsboro, Oregon. It is a two manual instrument with 49 stops and has the capability of adding actual organ pipes in the future. A computerized Sequencer-Sound Module attached to the console adds more than 300 additional sounds to the organ and will also allow organists to record performances for future replaying.
Near the entrance to the sanctuary are the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and the Reconciliation Room. The Chapel shelters the tabernacle for the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament, the consecrated hosts available for distribution to shut-ins, the sick and the dying, and the oils used for sacramental anointing. The lamp burning in the Chapel indicates the presence of reserved Blessed Sacrament, the Real Presence of Christ. The Chapel has a separate entrance from the Narthex to allow for private devotions and visits without entering the sanctuary. The Reconciliation Room provides a private place for priest and penitent to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The major window in the sanctuary depicts symbols of our patroness, Saint Monica: blue for her fidelity even through adversity; the eye in the center, turned upward, just as she kept her focus on God and prayer. A red dove in the center of the eye suggests the gentleness and patience of Saint Monica, whose example of virtue helped convert her pagan husband. A pale blue tear drop is a reminder of the prayers of a wife and mother whose son had turned from the faith. To the left, green fragments form a laurel wreath, symbolic of the philosophy studies of her son who became St. Augustine, a Doctor of the Church. In contrast, on the right, a circlet of brown evokes the crown of thorns, contrasting the laurel wreath of the worldly philosopher versus the message of humility from Christ. The clear glass arch is symbolic of the philosopher’s learning which, through the grace of God, was transformed into a faith that changed lives. Throughout the window, outlines form other symbols for knowledge, wisdom and understanding. A flame spreads from a lamp of knowledge. Curving lines at the bottom center of the window mimic the unfolding pages of a Bible, wisdom. A dove, the symbol of the Holy Spirit and of understanding, leads us toward truth.
Seven windows on the south wall bear symbols of the seven sacraments that grace our lives as Christians. The Sacrament Windows were designed by parishioner Lynnell Nelson and constructed by parish volunteers, as were the colored glass windows that were moved from the original sanctuary to the Daily Chapel and Narthex entrance.
