ANNIVERSARY GLASS — These stained glass panels in Regina’s St. Jean Baptiste Parish were designed to celebrate the parish’s 50th anniversary in 2004. They were installed in 2010 — an example of persistence, determination and faith. (Flegel photo)
Mural an example of persistence, faith
By Frank Flegel
REGINA — It began as
a 50th anniversary project for St. Jean-Baptiste, Regina’s only
French-language parish. It celebrated the anniversary in 2004, but it
took more than 10 years and several volunteers to complete the stained
glass mural now backing the altar. It’s an example of persistence,
determination and faith.
“I was approached in
2000 to design the pieces,” said Regina visual artist and parish
member Sharon Pulvermacher. “I left for Australia and began work
on them when I returned.”
Parish member Rheal Laroche
then worked on the project, completing and installing one of the five
panels in 2004 in time for the 50th anniversary. It stood alone for
three years, then Michel Cloutier became involved. After taking a course
from Hossein Ghaniabadi of Regina’s Renaissance Glaziers in stained
glass, Cloutier assembled and installed the last four panels this spring.
The mural is based on Matthew
25, in which Christ interprets helping others, providing food and drink
to the hungry and thirsty and visiting the lonely, as in fact serving
Christ himself. The figures in the mural are not depicted in traditional
biblical garb but appear to be more modern and Christ is depicted as
the Risen Christ with the cross behind.
“It is believed to
be the only contemporary stained glass in the city,” said Sister
Mariette Bilodeau of St. Jean-Baptiste.
A formal blessing of the
mural is will be held sometime this fall.
St. Jean-Baptiste Parish was established in 1954 and for nine years held services in the Odd Fellows Hall on West 13th Avenue. The current structure was built in 1963 as the church hall and a church was to be built later, but Bilodeau said parishioners decided to build community rather than a building. The altar area sits on a podium that can be closed off when it is being used as a hall.
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