Home >Tour of Saint Mary of the Assumption


Sanctuary
The mural of St. Mary of the Assumption, painted by Mrs. Mary McCabe Danner, is majestically housed in a newly constructed oak reredos patterned after the original one installed in the late 1800's. Included in the mural are St. Ambrose (front left), St. Augustine (back left), St. Ephrem (front right) and St. Jerome (back right).

Center is the relocated marble altar originally assembled in the church during the 1950 renovation. It is composed of former pieces of a communion rail from 1920.

The newly restored pulpit was assembled from marble that had been the bases of the side altars.

The presider's chair is made of wood from pews removed from the back of the nave. Other sanctuary furniture has been refinished and recovered.

The sanctuary ceiling is aglow with stars. The larger stars are placed as they were in the eastern sky over Jerusalem at the time of Christ's death. The smaller stars are artistically placed.

The beautiful sanctuary stained glass windows depict the four evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Tabernacle
The primary action of the worshipping assembly is the liturgy in which the bread and wine offered at mass are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. Eucharist reserved in the tabernacle is for distribution to the sick and homebound. The original tabernacle in a newly designed Gothic style tower, located to the left of the sanctuary, highlights this Eucharistic presence and enables private devotion near it.

To the right of the sanctuary are placed the statues of the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph. Twelve devotional candles may be lighted beneath their pedestal.

Nave
Along the sides of the nave, glorious stained glass windows installed in the church in 1916 depict scenes from the life of Mary and her son Jesus. Starting south front: the Annunciation, the Birth of Christ, the Flight into Egypt, on Calvary Jesus meets his Mother, Jesus taken down from the Cross, Mary is crowned Queen. Starting north front: the Immaculate Conception, the Visitation, the Presentation, the Finding of Jesus in the Temple, the Crucifixion, the Assumption.

Also along the side walls, beginning south front, hang the Stations of the Cross from Oberammergau, originally installed in the 1950 renovation.

On the side walls fourteen small crosses and twelve candles, crafted by Martin Hettinger, indicate that the church was consecrated and anointed with chrism.

Two new reconciliation rooms may be entered from the north side of the nave. Refurbished rest rooms provide access to the disabled.

Baptismal Font
In the center near the main entrance stands the newly constructed baptismal font. The water reminds us, as we make the sign of the cross with it, of our entrance into the church through Baptism and of our commitment to its mission. The upper level was crafted in Italy. The lower level, using parts of the communion rail, provides for Baptism by immersion.

Entrance Area
The saints who inspire and help us are represented by statues in the rear of the nave: St. Peter and St. Paul (larger) denote the universal church. St. Rose of Lima and St. Catherine of Siena recall the Dominicans who first served the parish. St. Boniface and St. Patrick represent the German and Irish background of our early ancestors.

In the presider's vesting room to the south, the window depicts St. Margaret Mary Alacoque known for her devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Inside the main entrance is the stained glass portrayal of Hoffman's Gethsemane. On either side two angels, originally from St. Pius V. Church, Moxahala, Ohio watch over those who enter and leave the church. In the south and north entrances are stained glass representations of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart.

In the newly constructed south vestibule stands the font originally a gift of and in memory of the parents of Rev. Jerome B. Mattingly, pastor from 1906-1923.

Choir Loft
In the choir loft, replacing the original one installed in 1913, stands the magnificent organ completed in 1989 by Austin Organ Company, Hartford, Connecticut. The thirty-five ranks of pipes are the delight of parishioners and organists this side of the Mississippi!

Three bells were donated at the turn of the century by the St. Joseph Society, the Knights of St. John and the Knights of St. George and are named on the castings (from largest to smallest): Joseph, John and George. Joseph and John ring the Angelus daily.

Historic Landmark
The building has been designated by the Fairfield Heritage Association an historic landmark, recognized by the National Register of Historic Places. More significantly it is a monument to the faith, generosity and conviction of our ancestors and a treasure and challenge to our community of today.