Click here for a history of the parish written for its 100 anniversary.

STAIN GLASS WINDOW DESCRIPTION / ARCHITECTURE OF THE CHURCH

From the Architect's notes...
Benoit Gilsoul
3299 Cambridge Avenue
New York, NY

1968

"The Church sings for the dedication of its churches a hymn (sic) where she greets the Celestial Jerusalem "vision of Peace",  "Coelestis urbs Jerusalem Beata pacis visio"  (Translated from Latin - Blessed city of Jerusalem, called "vision of peace",)

"While working for St. Brendan's Chruch, this thought has always been on my mind  What I have wanted to express is born in the peace of the heart. comes from the heart to go to the heart.

Window of the Chancel

"This window celebrates and sings the mystery of the reunion of all things in Christ. "Those that are in heaven and those that are in earth" says St. Paul. And he adds, "and to enlighten all men, that they may see what is the dispensation of the mystery which has been hidden from eternity and God who created all things, that the manifold wisdom of God may be known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places through the Church. According to the eternal purpose which he made in Christ Jesus Our Lord "(Ephesians 3:9-11).

"The window does not offer us a vulgar and common image. One cannot represent such a text by images; they would be inevitably short, cold, rigid, and dead. They would only serve to pleasure of the eye perhaps.  What we sing is life, is the glory of God that appears through the impalpable light, spiritualized, transfigured by the color.
 
"The first goal was to create an atmosphere that predisposes the soul to contemplate the sublime realities, hidden in the sacrifice of the mass.  The window wants to be only the continuation, the reflection, like the sacred music of the realities.
 
"The huge gray shadow of Christ crucified, his arms open to embracing his people, dominates the center of the window.  Grey is the symbolic color of resurrection - composed of white that represents the platitude of God, and of black the image of nothingness.
 
"In that shadow, five red spots, the color of charity, represent the wounds of Christ.  In the central lancets, going from top to bottom, the golds and amber's dripping from the glory of God. The shadow itself is all related of glory.
 
"The big blue and green circle that runs to the window is almost unreal and symbolizes the internal use of creation redeemed by the Son of God.  The bottom of the window is dominated by red, the color of love and charity, the foundation of Christianity.  St. Paul told us further, charity will never pass. Comes the violet color of penance followed by the blue that is a call to spiritual life.  The top of the window is sprinkled with stars that are in evocation of a Celeste real Jerusalem.
 
"The seven circles put slightly behind, symbolize the sacraments.  As far as the liturgy is concerned this window will mark strongly the sacred character of the sanctuary and will help to give the liturgical celebration it's spiritual dimension.
 
"The architect has built his church starting from the altar as spiritual primordial center of his composition. The altar is first, followed by the community that is engendered in the building developing around it, following unforeseen forms needed to shelter them. "

1893 - 1905   Rev. John Harty (Sprague Ave, Mission Chapel to Sacred Heart) (+)
1905 - 1909   Rev. John Hanney (as Mission Church to Sacred Heart) (+)

1909 - 1930   Rev. Joseph Hughes - First Pastor to St. Brendn's Parish (+)
1930 - 1942   Rev. John A. Toohey (+)
1942 - 1944   Rev. John X. Murphy (+)
1944 - 1952   Rev. Francis McCabe (+)
1952 - 1959   Rev. William Tierney (+)
1959 - 1972   Rev. Msgr. John J. Kenny (+)
1972 - 1990   Rev. James J. Cassidy (+)
1990 - 1996   Rev. Roger M. Fortin (+)
1996 - 2010   Rev. John E. Unsworth
2010 - 2021   Rev. John Codega
2021 -            Rev. Scott Carpentier

(+) Deceased
 

Rev. Leo McVay (+)
Rev. Daniel J. O'connell (+)
Rev. Peter Croghan (+)
Rev. Joseph Degnan (+)
Rev. John J. Feeney (+)
Rev. Thomas Monahan (+)
Rev. John G. Murphy (+)
Rev. John C. Canole (+)
Rev. Leo P. McKenna (+)
Rev. Richard Prime (+)
Rev. John J. Callahan (+)
Rev. John T. Carty (+)
Rev. Charles F. Dolan (+)
Rev. William O'Connell (+)
Rev. Oscar Ferland (+)
Rev. Frederick J. Rogera (+)
Rev. Austin J. Smith (+)
Rev. Vincent Ferri (+)
Rev. John J. Farrell (+)
Rev. Timothy L. Gillen (+)
Rev. William M. Gallagher (+)
Rev. William F. Harrington (+)
Rev. William R. Macera (+)
Rev. John A. Daley (+)
Rev. Alfred E. Irving (+)
Rev. Lawrence E. Toole
Rev. John W. Hunt
Rev. James V. Farley 
Rev. Sean Maher (+)
Rev. John E. Abreau
Rev. John J. Darcy
Rev. Daniel Moriarty (+)
Rev. Joseph A. Pescatello
Rev. Roland L. Simoneau
Rev. Marcel L. Taillon
Rev. Robert L. Bailey
Rev. Michael A. Kelley
Rev. Jared J. Costanza
Rev. Timothy D. Reilly
Rev. Przemyslaw "Shemek" Lepak

(+) Deceased

Most Reverend Keneth Angel (+) *
Rev. Ryan W. Connors
Rev. Christopher J. Murphy

* Bishop Angel graduated from St Bendan's School but moved out of Riversde and was ordianed from another parish in Providence.