St. Stephen Catholic Church

St. Stephen Catholic Church
El Paso, TX

Liturgical Consultant:
Kenneth J. Griesemer & Associates

PHASE 2: NAVE WINDOWS
4 at 1’-6” w by 15’-10” h each
(Click to view Phase 1)

German and French mouthblown glass, domestic rolled glasses, beveled Austrian lead crystal, lead and solder.

These windows are located between the larger-than-life-scaled John Nava tapestries of Saints of the Americas, their design needed to be simple so as to not distract from the tapestries. In addition, harsh afternoon sun was a major distraction for worshipers.

Initially a simple, rigid grid of white glass was discussed, but I couldn't resist using a more complex grid and a range of white glasses and textures that echo similar glasses in the altar’s Glass Cross Window.

Using a simple grid of the same white glass that's in the Altar and Tower Windows, the Nave Windows are a quiet transition between the stained glass focal points in the Altar and Tower Windows.The beautiful, amber-shifting, white glass does not compete with the strong, rich imagery in the Nava tapestries. The amber glow from these four windows was inspired by Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls (San Paolo fuori le Mura) in Rome which are filled, not with glass, but with thinly sliced alabaster "panes" of white travertine.

I hope every worshiper can find their own explanation for the Austrian lead-crystal bevel that can be found in one of the windows. Is it the Star of Bethlehem? Or maybe a reminder of God's ever-present grace for those who seek it. Or is it a visual mustard seed? Could it be a symbol of God's ultimate gift to humanity? Do its colors echo God's covenant with Noah that He sealed with a rainbow? Or might it be a reminder that we will never find the unexpected unless we look for it? All of these explanations are "true" as well as all the others worshipers will hopefully find. . .

PHASE 3 includes the two Tower Windows that flank the monumental tower from which the exterior cross rises.

Click images for a larger view.