Shrine of St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish

The Shrine of St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish is an older church that looks like it has been white washed.  As you approach this formattable brick structure from the outside you have high expectations.  It is a nice contrast to the modern city.  The church is perched on a hill overlooking Arvada, CO and features a soaring bell tower that I am sure overlooks the city.  I never got the chance to go up there and find out!

The inside is a different story.  The very white and blank walls that cover most of the church really bring attention to the vents, speakers and other distracting items inside.  However several bright, beautiful stained glass windows surround the building like a ribbon of light that does have a nice effect on the barron white walls.  Up high, the stained glass looses its charm and showcases hues of pink and yellow.  In the end the white walls do bring focus to the few beautiful windows and statues.

St. Peter Chanel - Roswell, GA

This a modern church that was build in the ancient cruciform design that gives a clear message of this parishes values.  This is backed up with the most beautiful monstrance I have seen a while in their ornate perpetual adoration chapel.  This is in stark contrast to the very modern look I saw in the St. Ann parish in Marietta just down the road.  The sanctuary is adorned by an old style high altar.  I love this because it obviously was very purposeful instead of just a relic from the church before the new Mass.  The stained glass was very traditional but feature some more contemporary people such as a beautiful one of Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II. The is marble a plenty and a very solid grounded feel to this parish that also features a Elementary School, High School and Retirement Home.  They have you covered here at St. Peter's Chanel from Baptism to Funeral!

Epiphany Cathedral - Venice, Fl

On this go round the Venice Cathedral was actually my destination.  I was there to train about 40 people to launch their parish and school.  It was a crazy day with 3 trainings in one day.

I was able to take a peak into the Cathedral with Father Jack leading the quick tour.  This is very much a church in the round with a woodsy dated style.  I was told that they renovated recently  but the old 70's style still comes through.  Two features stand out in the midst of the uninspired design. The sculpture/mural above the sanctuary is unique, but doesn't do anything to help the retro style.  The stained glass windows that surround the church are probably this Cathedral's best feature.  They are in a crude mosaic style, but they pull it off well.

They have a beautiful school with its own chapel and grounds.  They also have the most locked down school I have seen to date.  They scanned in my license and also printed me a name tag as well.  They are not screwing around here.

Saint Cecilia Cathedral

The Cathedral of St. Cecilia in Omaha is a large mighty limestone castle nestled in mid-town Omaha.  It is the biggest thing around and further yet sits on a hill.  Stepping up to it sheer flat facade give you a felling of impressiveness.  This feeling extends as you step inside its large bronze doors.  I can feel a early 20th century connection with the artwork and very ornate walls.  It is accented by a dark wood that makes up much of the artwork and furniture including the impressive cathedra.  This wood style extends to several of the statues including a inspired life size Jesus in the rear of the church and several more statues integrated into the backdrop of the altar. The stations hang on the walls like large copper coins, but end up accenting the stone walls well.  Once item that I really enjoyed seeing was the crests toward the top of the church that gave dates to the reign of bishops and other important events in the Archdiocese.  I also enjoyed several of the paintings including one of St. Cecilia that I had not seen before at the entrance of the side chapel.

Christ the King - Omaha

Christ the King Church in Omaha is a very unique church painted by 9,000 square foot of stained glass that seem to hold the room on top of the church.  As this ring of stained glass surrounds the church it tells the story of Jesus mostly in blue tones with red and yellow accents.  The glass sticks to a very square pattern that gives off a 60's motif   The other items that sets this church apart are the gold etchings in the stone walls above the entrances and used in the stations.  I live the fact that these stations are integrated into the building instead of being something just hung on the wall.  The other items that struck me as beautiful is the large arrangement of candles that flanks the sanctuary on the left.  I envision it as a burning bush with no less that 1,000 yellow candles creating the top of the brick structure.  You can also visit the perpetual adoration chapel as you pass by this interesting piece of artwork.