By Christina Gray
In a nod to the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, St. Dominic’s Church will celebrate the legacies of American-born saints in its 31st annual Twilight Windows Tour June 21.
According to parish organizers, the annual event is traditionally held on the longest day of the year when the evening light is soft and lingering. In the tour’s golden hour, the renowned stained-glass windows cast a prismatic glow throughout the church. The tour is traditionally held between 6:35 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., after the contemporary Mass at 5:30 p.m.
This year, trained docents will incorporate into the tour the holy lives of American saints such St. Augustus Tolton, St. Katherine Drexel, St. Elizabeth Seton, St. Kateri Tekawitha and others such as the Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
“We will present an American-born saint alongside a Dominican saint in a window and outline the corresponding characteristics of both persons,” said longtime parishioner and senior docent Elizabeth Skelton.
St. Dominic’s Church is an architectural work of art hearkening back to the Gothic cathedrals of Europe, said Skelton. Stained-glass windows historically were placed high on the walls directing attention heavenward. Because many of the faithful in the past were illiterate, the windows gave churchgoers the ability to visualize the saints, the tenets of their faith and its salvific history.
The windows are breathtaking for their beauty alone, said Skelton. They can be more fully appreciated in a tour by trained docents who can shed light on the history of the windows, the craftsmanship of each, and the stories of faith and Dominican tradition they convey.
An example is the Christ in Glory window at the church entrance by famed French glassworker Max Ingrand. Known for his use of bold, luminous colors, Ingrand played a key role in redesigning stained-glass windows in post-World War II Europe. The window depicts Christ surrounded by symbols of the four Gospels. Directly below Him are three of the four Dominican popes. Kneeling below the popes is St. Dominic. Surrounding Christ on either side are other Dominican saints, including Sts. Thomas Aquinas, Martin de Porres, Catherine of Siena and Rose of Lima. The tour also includes the sanctuary windows featuring the seven sacraments of the Catholic faith.
Dominican Father Michael Hurley, pastor of St. Dominic’s Church, said that sacred art including stained-glass windows have always been part of how the Church proclaims the Gospel.
“These windows help tell the story of elevation and remind us that beauty can draw us closer to God,” he said.
The tour is free and parking is available in the church lot. No pre-registration is necessary. For more information, call the St. Dominic’s parish office on weekdays at (415) 567-7824.
