ST. GIANNA
PRO-LIFE GROUP
of St. Charles Parish

St Charles Parish History
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St. Charles parish was founded in 1950, but construction of the church did not begin until 1959. What is now the Gym was the original Church.

The church is constructed in the shape of an “unbalanced hyperbol ic-paraboloid.” It is unbalanced in that the portion of the shell over the seating area extends farther than that part over the front entrance and baptistery,

Outside the church is the “Campanile” or bell tower. It consists of the tower, a fountain and chimes and was designed to symbolize God’s power descending from above to the people on earth and our yearning for that power.

St. Charles Borromeo

On the entrance façade is a metal sculpture of St. Charles Borromeo.

 St. Charles was born into an aristocratic family on October 2, 1538. His uncle. Cardinal de Medici, was selected as Pope in 1559. Pope Pius iv named his nephew cardinal-deacon and then as Archbishop of Milan. St. Charles took on a number of responsibilities at the age of 23, including the establishment of a literary academy of clergy and laymen in the Vatican. With much influence from St, Charles, the council of Trent was reopened in 1562. St. Charles was instrumental in many of the Church reforms stemming from those session.

St. Charles is noted for his great regard for the liturgy of the Church and in seeing that lay people, as well as clergy, were instructed in Christian doctrine. An interesting fact about St. Charles Borromeo is that he gave First Communion to St. Aloysius Gonzaga. He also spent much time and all his financial resources in caring for those in Milan when the plague broke out. St. Charles died during the night of November 3» 1584. His feast day is celebrated on November 4.

Church Design

Thre are 12 baked-enamel panels on the entrance doors which depict the story , of Christ’s life beginning with the Annunciation(the panel on the top row of the left door. The other panels (from left to right) include: Nativity, Presentation, Baptism, Transfiguration and Palm Sunday. The right-hand set of doors depict the Last Supper, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Ascension, Decent of the Holy Spirit and the Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven. The church covers over 15,000 square feet and will seat 800 persons. Just inside the front doors is the Baptistry with the stained glass windows above representing the sacred waters of P Baptism. Christ’s baptism by St. John is represented on the iron doors.

In the Church, you will notice that the stained glass windows and Stations of the Cross. They were designed by the French artist, Gabriel Loire who used thick chipped glass set in cement to give the panels a “jeweled” effect. Loire made the panels of the Last Supper window off the sanctuary, the windows of the Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Lourdes behind the side altar, the window of St. Joseph the Worker in a shrine off the nave, the ceiling windows of the baptistery and the three-section window of St. John Vianney in the exit to the right of the sanctuary. Our Lady of Lourdes was chosen because she is the patroness of the Diocese, and St. John Vianney because he is the patron saint of parish priests.

Loire also made the sky windows which primarily contain symbols of Christ’s Passion. The vertical lines used in the windows represent the rising prayers of the congregation. The symbols from left to right include: three nails of the Cross; the dice Roman soldiers case for Christ’s garments; the fish and bread representing Christ and the Eucharist, the lance used to pierce the side of Christ; and the crown of thorns. Behind the altar is the chi rho (XP) , the Greek abbreviation for Christ. On the right are the three crosses of Calvary. Continuing on the right are the three crosses of Calvary. Continuing on the right—ladder used in the Crucifixion; the hammer and pincers used I Veronica and reeds used to insert the nails; the whip used to scorge Christ, the veil of Veronica and reeds used by the soldiers.

The altar consists of a marble slab. It is mounted on an iron plate metal sculpture. The sculpture depicts the saints of the Canon of the Mass which are (from left to right) St. Agatha, St. Agnes, St. Matthias, Abraham, St. Lawrence, St. Paul, St. Peter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John Baptist, Abel, St. Stephen, Melchisedech, St. Barnabas, St. Cecilia and St. Lucy.

You will notice the figures in the comers of the Crucifix. Rhey are symbols of the four evangelists. Starting at the top from left t he winged eagle; St. Mark, the winged lion; and St. Luke, the winged ox.

When the parish was established in 1950, there were approximately 400 families. Now, the parish consists of over 1000 families. For information on bow to register, call 327-9573.