Evaluation of the Sacred Art of St. William's Catholic Church, Round Rock, Texas
Evaluation of the Sacred Art of St. William's Catholic Church, Round Rock, Texas
The new home of St. William's has the look and feel of a Spanish Mission that was crossed with a small basilica. It has limestone 'stones' as the facade. The roof (minus the basilica dome) is made of clay roofing tiles. The shape and style of the building overall make one first think 'Spanish Mission' with the two rectangular espadañas with ironwork crosses on the apex of each. The basilica-style dome appears to be covered on the outside with thin sheets of iron with an ironwork cross at the apex as well.
Once you get inside the massive front doors you are greeted with the darker, cooler, quiet atrium. The atrium is rather large with attractive tile for flooring. The ceiling is arched with decorative wood 'support' beams crisscrossing it to make perfect squares that have wood circles in the center of them. Directly across from the main doors above the doors to the sanctuary is a large framed painting of Jesus giving the keys of faith / the temple to Peter. Peter and Jesus are in the center of the painting with apostles behind both of them. With people and buildings in the background. Peter is on his knees reaching for the key or for Christ as if he was so moved or shocked he fell to one knee. The painting is very beautifully done in the Italian Renaissance style. The piece helps to remind you that you have stepped into a holy place and should be thinking of the scriptures or of your own relationship with God.
Just inside the main doors leading into the sanctuary proper to the right in the corner is a large sculpture of St. Michael the Archangel. The statue of St. Michael depicts him with wings outstretched, in full armor with his shield and sword raised standing on the fallen devil. St. Michael has a fierce expression on his face with the devil under his sandal has a stricken, fearful expression. St. Michael is dressed very similarly to that of a Roman Imperial Solider. The statue is meant to remind us that St. Michael can be called upon to protect us as well as the fact he is one of the warriors of God.
On the wall to the right of the St. Michael statue a few feet farther into the sanctuary is the first Stations of the Cross that you see. It is a small sculpted piece that has been attached somehow to the wall depicting Jesus meeting the daughters of Israel as he bears his cross through the streets of Jerusalem. In the background, there are what appear to be two young men dressed as Greeks. In front of them, covering them largely is the afflicted Christ with his cross over his shoulder with a Roman Solider in front of him (to his left) and a Solider behind him (to his right). In the foreground on her knees at Christs feet weeping is a Jewish woman and her child. The Jewish woman is reaching for Christ as if she desires to touch him as he goes by. As with all images of the Stations of the Cross it reminds you of the hardship, pain, humiliation, loneliness, and turmoil that Christ went through and felt on his way to his death. It is, like all of them a very sombering piece that forces you to reflect on your own life and how you have wronged Christ by sinning.
A few feet (or pews) farther into the sanctuary on the same wall is the first of the many large stained glass pieces. This stunning stained glass is also done in the Italian Renaissance style. It depicts Jesus performing the miracle of turning water into wine at the wedding. The center of the stained glass shows Mary to the left and slightly behind Christ in the traditional blue and white outfit she is often depicted in with a halo. Jesus is slightly in front and to the right of her. Christ is shown with a more golden halo and in red and white as he is also often depicted. He is facing the left of the stained glass where a servant is pouring fluid from one container to another. Behind the servant are wedding guests watching what is going on. To the right of and behind the Holy Mother and Christ is the newlyweds sitting at a table. There is a musician seated on the ground in the foreground in front of the husband in our line of sight. The location where they are celebrating their marriage is depicted behind the action as very grand and wealthy giving the appearance that the newly married couple comes from means. The stained glass is meant to remind us of one of the many miracles Christ performed in his public life. I found the piece to be very beautiful as well as thought-provoking. The next major piece of art in the sanctuary is another large stained glass window. This stained glass was done in the same style as the prior one and depicts Jesus sitting surrounded by children as well as a few of the his disciples and the children's mothers. This a depiction of Jesus welcoming the children after rebuking the disciple that attempted to turn the parents wanting Jesus to bless their children away. It is a reminder to us all that everyone, young, old, all races, all degrees of physical and mental health and so on are welcome in God's house. He will rebuke US if we attempt to turn someone away rather then welcome them.
The next major artwork is another large stained glass window. This stained glass is done in the same style that is the apparently chosen style for all the art in the space. It tells the story of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Jesus is shown in the center of the installment with a long shepherd's staff in his right hand holding a baby lamb to his chest with his left arm. The little lamb is looking into Christ's face while Christ is looking out at us. At his feet are two adult sheep, another sheep behind him that we can just barely see, and a fourth sheep slightly in front of the others on the right side in front of two of the apostles. Other than one sheep there is also a young light brown-headed apostle behind Christ. To the left of Christ are two wealthy Jewish men that one perceives to be Pharisees pointing at and presumably talking about Christ. Behind everyone are palm trees and a dark red and brilliant yellow sky. The work is beautifully done and tells it's story well.
The next major piece of art as one follows the art around the walls from where we entered and took a left and have continued to follow the walls in a counter clockwise manner is a statue of a saint in the corner beside another door leading into the sanctuary from the outside. I do not know for sure who the saint is but I believe it is Moses. The statue is on a pedestal that comes to about my waist and the actual statue is approximately four feet tall. The statue is of a man with slightly gray hair that settles softly on his shoulders with a full slightly gray beard. He is wearing a long sleeved yellow-gold dishdasha robe with a rope like belt double looped around his waist. He has a purplish-blue abaya on secured with an aged brass colored medallion cloak pin at the neck. He has a wooden staff that is slightly taller then his waist line in his left hand and his right hand appears to be pointing either at his heart or the medallion securing his cloak. Just barely above his head is a small orange colored flame. I interpreted this statue to be Moses though he could be another saint I am not aware of. The Moses statue made me reflect on the Mosaic stories in the Old Testament as well as remember the plight of the Jewish people in Egypt.
On the North facing wall there is a deeply recessed medium (compared to the others in the space) sized round stained glass. On either side of the recessed stained glass of the Eucharist chalice are a set of six organ pipes. The pipes are set atop wooden shelves and are to my best estimate three or four feet long. The stained glass between them is a fraction of the size of the large window ones but a good bit bigger then the small stained glass pieces that are placed high up on all the walls depicting various saints including Blessed John Paul II, Mother Teresa, St. Nicholas, and many others.
The next major installation is below and to the left of the organ pipes and oval stained glass on the North wall. It is another large stained glass window this one depicting the ascension of Christ after his resurrection. In the center of the stained glass has Jesus wearing all white with his right hand raised to heaven and in his left hand a staff with a pennant attached with a version of the cross of St. George on it. You gather that Christ has just started his rise up into the air since his foot is just barely off the above-ground marble tomb he appears to have been standing on. To his right there is a Roman soldier that appears to be unconscious and an angel behind said soldier with one hand outstretched to Christ as he watches his progression. To the left of Christ there are two soldiers one turning away and shielding his eyes and the other bowing on one knee with a look of fear on his face. Directly in front of Jesus is another soldier who also appears to be unconscious. Behind Christ is the cave he had been buried in a few trees and a deep bright red sky directly behind him. Above Christ is the symbolic heave that is in most if not all of these large stained glass pieces. This piece is not only beautiful but also moving because it reminds us that Christ not only died for us but he rose again and will return someday.
These are just a few of the very impressive art installations at St. William's Catholic Church in Round Rock, Texas. Everything from the building itself to the very floor you walk on is designed to bring your mind, your attention, and your whole being to thinking of who God is, what Christ did for us, who we are, and how we can correct ourselves to be in better alignment with leading a life modeled after Christ himself. The atmosphere that is created by the works, the lighting, and the temperature even of this space helps to calm you down and make you stop and think, stop and give reverence to your God. My companion who came with me to the church for the research for this paper was very moved by all the artwork found there in and I found myself moved by many if not all of the artwork. Though I was raised Protestant I have never found art in any space including a religious space distracting or negative. I have often found the art in various churches I have visited or been a member of to help me focus on the service or sermon going on around me and keep my mind from wondering off to what I need to do when I get home or to my own personal life troubles. I find spaces, especially religious spaces, without art to be cold and impersonal.