THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 45, NO. 7 | SEPTEMBER 22, 2023
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
A parishioner and his son view the new three-panel mosaic at Corpus Christi Church in Lawrence.
‘CREATION’ FROM CHAOS Corpus Christi blesses and dedicates new mosaic
By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org
L
AWRENCE — The new, three-panel mosaic at Corpus Christi Parish here is made of 48,000 fingernail-sized bits of colored glass. And if they weren’t securely cemented in place, it would be chaos. Chaos, creation and the order intended by God were themes in the homily preached by pastor Father Jerry Volz at a Mass on Sept. 17 that included the blessing and dedication of the new mosaic called “Creation” installed in the church entryway, or narthex. “Out of the chaos or nothingness (described in the Book of Genesis), God created beauty, and when God created beauty, that again was God’s intention that it would always be beautiful,” said Father Volz. “That our world and all
within it — and especially our human nature — would return to that beauty.” If you were to take all 48,000 pieces of glass tile in the new mosaic and just throw it out onto the floor it would be chaos, he said. Not what God intended. That’s why so many artists and poets call God “the divine artist,” said Father Volz. The three mosaic panels — each 4 feet by 5 feet — are on the wall to the right as one enters the church. On the wall to the left is another mosaic, a glazed tile work called “Communion of Saints,” blessed and dedicated in 2017. Together, the mosaics flanking the entrance of the church represent the beginning (“I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth . . .”) and end (“. . . the communion of saints . . .”) of the Nicene Creed. >> See “MOSAICS” on page 6
HIT US WITH YOUR BEST SHOT
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Marilyn Dobski, along with her husband Tom, blesses the mosaic with incense and holy water as part of the dedication ceremony before Mass on Sept. 17.
Is your pastor blessing animals on the feast day of St. Francis, Oct. 4? Send your best “blessing” photos by email to Todd Habiger at: todd. habiger@theleaven.org. All submissions will be shared on our social media platforms and the very best will make it into print! Watch for other “Hit us with your best shot” features in upcoming issues.