On Ash Wednesday I found this beautiful parish of the Sacred Heart in Bowmansville NY and was reborn the needed to capture the majesty of God creations.. a little history of this parish
The small parish, still burdened with the debt of its original building program, did not have the money to hire professional designers, stone cutters, or masons. Fortunately, the pastor, Father Edward L. Ott, was a skilled designer and builder. Father Ott and the parishioners did virtually all the construction work. The shrines have survived in good condition for over 80 years, a testimony to their skill and craftsmanship.
Father Ott announced the plans for the shrines on July 18, 1926, and the people of the parish immediately went to work. Men of the parish began to haul the stone, much of which was donated. People brought stones from their farms, so that a part of their property would be incorporated into the shrines. Within a few days of the announcement, the site was filled with several tons of stones.
This shrine was constructed of rough, discolored stones; even when it was new, it gave the appearance of having been there for many years. The Genesee Sand and Gravel Company donated stone for the ornamental fence and arches, which were built along the Genesee Street frontage at the same time.
The outer walls of this shrine form the shape of a heart, symbolic of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The statue of Our Lady stands at the top of the heart. Smaller statues representing the Annunciation and the Assumption are in smaller grottoes.
These stones, of all shapes and sizes, represent the different people and nations of the Kingdom of Christ. The altar is constructed of thousands of pieces of granite and marble, skillfully masonry together into a Roman-style altar. The door of the tabernacle is made of granite in which was placed a sculpture of the head of Christ. The bell in the shrine had been the first fire bell ever used in the City of Buffalo.
The Shrine of the Sacred Heart is built-in massive Spanish and Roman style from stones of every shape and size, gathered from the fields of the surrounding country. A great marble cross rises above the altar, and the two candlesticks are made of stone fragments laid in cement…
Information by Ronald J. Huefner ( http://sheartshrine.catholicweb.com/index.cfm/about )
…Great Place to Pray to find the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can and Wisdom to know the difference.
CNE Photography 