St. Joseph Hammond Art & Heritage
Discovering the sacred in a mystical space and a welcoming community
Several years ago, a group of volunteers initiated a project
to offer guided tours of our Church building in downtown Hammond, Indiana, so that Church members and visitors could experience and learn more about the breathtaking art, architecture, and history of our sacred space. Enter our 1912 Church building, with its expansive Romanesque dome and brilliant stained glass, and you will feel your spirit lift. 52 windows, crafted in Munich, Germany, depict the mysteries of faith with stunning artistry. Wall frescoes fill the space with sacred symbols and golden light. Astronomical alignments connect the space with the cosmos and the liturgical year. The purpose of this blog is to share some of the reflections that we have offered, and continue to offer, on the works of art at St. Joseph. Guided tours are available at 10:00 am on Sundays (just meet us by the choir pews after the 9:00 am Mass) or by appointment. We can be reached through the contact form on this page. All are welcome, and we hope to meet you soon!
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The Pilasters in the Nave
The nave, or central hall, of the St. Joseph Church building is lined with ornamental columns called pilasters. What are the origins of these decorations, and what might they mean?
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Trinity Window: the short story
An informal talk on the upper roundel of the south transept window:
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So Many Goodbyes: the windows at St. Margaret Mercy
Today we celebrated what will likely be the last Mass in the chapel at Franciscan Health Hammond. The hospital, just south of St. Joseph, is downsizing, and much of the building will be torn down. It is a painful transition for all of us whose lives have been entwined with the institution for many years.… Read more
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9-11 Remembrance
Hammond firefighters, parishioners, and community members gathered today to remember 9-11 with prayer. We solemnly rang our 19th-century bells at 8:46 am, the clock time when the first aircraft struck the World Trade Center. The bells seemed to me to toll the words of Pope Paul VI to the United Nations in 1965: No more… Read more
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The Sacred Heart Window
In this window, we see St. Margaret Mary Alacoque gazing at a vision of Jesus, who radiates golden light and gestures toward his sacred heart. In the foreground, the saint’s simple cloak trails on a red tiled floor. A graceful blue pitcher holds a lily. The lines of the saint’s grey habit draw the eye… Read more
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“I am the vine; you are the branches.”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus urges us to remain “in him,” united to him like branches to a vine. The vibrant fresco in the sanctuary reminds us of this teaching: five vine-like trees grow up the walls, curving and intertwining, bearing leaves, flowers, and the motto, “God with us.” A glowing gold background makes the colors… Read more
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Prayer to St. Joseph
A series of short videos pairing a 17th century poem with our stained-glass windows.
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Contact us! Schedule a tour of the building or request more information. We will get back to you by the following weekday.
This blog is not the official website of St. Joseph Parish, Hammond, Indiana. The parish website can be found at www.stjoehmd.com.
Cover photo by Noah Vaughan via the John Mallin webpage. Visit this page for more photos of the frescoes in the nave.
