by Debbie Shelley
Early afternoon sunlight shining through one of the stained glass windows of St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge illuminated the scene depicting the finding of the Christ Child in the temple. It appeared for a time that Jesus had two more new members added to his audience as Brandon Geppi and Andrew Paremski of Conrad Schmitt Studios climbed scaffolding and deftly worked to remove the seven panels which comprise the window.
The window was then transported to the company's studio in New Berlin, Wisconsin for restoration.
The stained-glass windows have inspired worshipers in St. Joseph Cathedral for more than 100 years. The cathedral community hopes to preserve their longevity for future generations.
The windows were made by artists trained in the Munich School of Art for Emil Frei Art Glass company in St. Louis and Munich between 1913-1918, according to the St. Joseph Cathedral archives. Due to the global outbreak of WWI, the cathedral sat without windows for a period of time due to shipping difficulties from the factory in Germany, but were installed by the end of the war.
Since the church is dedicated to St. Joseph, 11 of the windows depict the life of St. Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus and one depicts the life of St. Joseph, the Old Testament patriarch. In 1923, windows were added in the transept that depict the lives of the saints.
Above the main entrance to the cathedral is a window depicting God blessing the church.
In 1997 Father Jerry Young, then rector of the cathedral, organized a project to restore the windows, which began to show signs of deterioration.
The 138 Club was formed resulting in 138 people donating $1,000 each to go toward the most needed restoration of certain panels and windows.
Inspired by Father Young’s love of art and the history of the cathedral, a newly formed Preservation Society of St. Joseph Cathedral is sponsoring the renovations of the first window. The cathedral is working with Conrad Schmitt Studios to develop a plan toward the overall window restoration project.
Once a window arrives at the studio, detailed pictures are taken of it to document the current state of the window and the original design, according to Geppi, a stained glass window conservator.
“Then we’ll take a carbon rubbing of the panel onto a piece of paper,” said Geppi.
Paremski, a stained glass window craftsman, said, “The rubbings are actually a road map for us when putting the window back together, so we know exactly where each piece belongs. It is a reference for us as well as something that helps us understand the leading and other (elements) that are in there too.”
Representative pieces of glass are selected to make sure that no paint is lost during the de-leading process.
“Then we’ll put (each panel) in a water bath to dismantle all the lead,” said Geppi.
After repairs or replacement of broken glass, the panels are “glazed,” a process in which the craftsmen place a new leading between the glass pieces and secure the panels with solder on both sides, according to Geppi and Paremski.
Then the panels go through a cementing process, in which a putty is put into all the lead channels. Cementing helps strengthen the panels and ensures they are weather tight.
Next, replacement bars are attached to the panels with copper ties. This provides additional structural support over time.
The panels are given a final inspection and put back into their frame and secured and the window is carefully packed and transported back to the client.
Chris Redden, pastoral associate at St. Joseph Cathedral, said the cathedral windows are a visual reminder of the intersection of the human and the divine, of inspiration and creation and how Scripture touches humanity.
“The way that Scripture inspires us is uniquely our own, and our windows definitely offer a glimpse into Scripture, but also the personality of our community and that of the artists when they were commissioned and executed,” said Redden.
“Our windows, designed by folks in St. Louis and fabricated by folks in Europe, offer us an encapsulated world view.”
Redden gives tours of the cathedral to visiting groups of adults and children and notes how the light filtering through the windows has distinct characteristics at different times of the day/night.
“Morning liturgies in the space have an invitational feel … It’s direct and crisp,” said Redden. “The invitation of the afternoon light coming through the west windows speaks not so much of ‘come in and pray,’ but rather ‘stay with us and pray.’ It is less direct, more understood ... the light of the afternoon rests in the building.”
He added, “Even in darkness, and especially on a clear full moon night, the light finds its way in ... softly and sneakily almost.”
Father Cari Bani, pastor of St. Joseph Cathedral, said people visit a city’s cathedral for many reasons.
“Perhaps they are on a formal pilgrimage, or maybe they are simply taking a break from work in hopes of an opportunity for quiet, rest, and/or prayer,” Father Bani said. “Often, they come to participate in the sacraments … but perhaps, they are just curious at what might lie beyond those ‘big doors.’ ”
St. Joseph Cathedral welcomes local residents, guests and visitors to downtown Baton Rouge, according to Father Bani. It’s not uncommon to see visitors gazing at the beautiful glass windows.
“Of course, this is nothing new – stained glass windows have been an inspiration to individuals throughout the centuries. They distract us from the mundanity of everyday life,” said Father Bani. “They tell a story … and, above all, they give us a ‘sense of the transcendent,’ reminding us of the beauty of God’s creation – the world, its people and the promise of eternal life as told in the Gospels.”
Each window provides an opportunity for reflection and prayer, enabling people to place themselves in the particular scene depicted and contemplate on what it means to for them in regards to their own spirituality and relationships with God, Father Bani pointed out.
“The actual dedications noted at the base of each window also remind us of the importance placed by that particular individual or family on their relationship with God and the cathedral itself,” said Father Bani.
The cathedral community plans to continue with restoration of all twelve large windows within the nave of the church.
“Of course, to accomplish this lofty goal, we’ll need the help of those both within and outside of our diocese. If God is calling you to contribute to this worthy project, please visit our website at cathedralbr.org or call our office at 225-387-5928,” Father Bani said.
Photos by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator