As I continue sharing with you (and most importantly, all of the good parishioners of this parish, both past and present); my self-assignment to document the architectural splendor of our oldest Catholic church in Scranton will show the labor of love that went into building this greatest of all local religious landmarks of faith communities.
The closing mass date is quickly approaching and as I peruse the selection of beautiful images I have painstakingly compiled over the past several months, processing the large files that are required to reveal the fine details which the artisans crafted into it, I can’t help but marvel at the level of excellence that makes up every square foot of space in this structure!
From humble beginnings, that first Catholic mass celebrated on this spot, representing the faith in this old “Slocum Hollow” section of the young settlement which would eventually become the City Of Scranton- fast-forward to 1914 when the dedication of the main upper church took place with the Cardinal Archbishop of Baltimore, His Eminence, James Cardinal Gibbons presiding, the main focal point of people’s lives was their faith and family. Nothing would discourage these determined people from expressing their love for God and their pride in building a fitting, exalted residence for their worship of Him.
On any sunlit morning, a massive stained glass wall lights up the East Transept with a magnificent ornate depiction of the Sorrowful Mysteries with the Passion portrayed in the center. Though it pales by comparison to the real-life version, I attempted to retain the thousands of finely detailed intricacies of this work of art, providing a lasting record of this and so many other works of art throughout the church.
In the organ loft the great stained glass wall made it necessary to design the pipes of the magnificent Austin organ to be built in sections on either side of the ‘large as life’ window, lending itself to become a perfect picture frame to adorn the sides of the glowing artwork- depicting significant religious events in the glass.
The high altar centerpiece features a reredos which is a marvel in itself; carved in Italy of beautiful Bottocino marble with Carrara marble statues depicting the Sacred Heart and angels.
For those of you who hold a special place in your heart for this beautiful church, the final mass will take place in just about week on June 8, 2025. In the interim, as well as after the closing, I intend to continue my documentation images to share with the public. Enjoy!
