Of holy things

A chance visit to a parish church in the Loughboy area of Kilkenny City provided an interesting insight for me into church layout and symbolism. The church of St Fiacre is located beside a busy shopping area and access road on the outskirts of the city in the parish of StPatrick’s. The church building is in what might be styled avant-garde design typical of many Catholic churches constructed in the 1970-1980s. It appears, from online sources, that this church was opened around 1991.  It is arranged in a theatre or fan style with the focus on the  light coming from the sanctuary area.  The sanctuary area feels very open and accessible with minimal clutter. Still, some important and holy things are kept there including the Altar, an imposing and very large wooden cross, the Tabernacle, the lectern, the presider’s chair, the baptism font and, unusually, a box (or Ambry) containing three types of holy oil:

Let the sanctuary speak

Church of the Holy Spirit, Ballyroan, Dublin

The sanctuary is the focal point of any Roman Catholic or Orthodox church. It is the area where the altar (or Holy Table in the Orthodox tradition) is located, together with the ambo for the proclamation of God's Word and the chair of the presiding priest. The reserved Eucharist is normally given a place of special honour, often within the sanctuary or in a prominent chapel associated with it.

How might our parish churches look like in 2050 #6

 

The sanctuary is the focal point of the celebration of Mass. Three elements stand out: the Altar or table, the Ambo, and the Presider’s Chair. Each carries its own symbolism and meaning.

The Altar is the place where bread is taken, blessed, consecrated, broken, and given to the faithful. It is usually raised slightly so that it can be seen clearly, set apart from the rest of the sanctuary and the wider church.