Unless you really don’t notice details, it’s hard not to see that Saint Joseph Church is now a brighter place.  The first week of June, Harrison Electric of Claflin finished installing three new spotlights.  Two of them shine upon the saints, Our Blessed Mother Mary and our patron, Saint Joseph.  A third, on the front north pillar, is made to swivel so that it can illuminate our baptismal font, a Christmas crèche, or anything else which might be specially installed for a Mass, like the Saint Joseph School Banner.  The light fixtures are mounted on the sanctuary side of the pillars and are not visible to the public.  Harrison electric was able to run the wiring through the pillars as well.

Father Klein said that the idea to illuminate the statues came after the last Candlelight Rosary, when it seemed a shame that no light fell upon the statue of our Blessed Mother, as we prayed her rosary.  Last year, Harrison Electric put spotlights on the tabernacle, so that it is visible and prominent, even when the rest of the church is dark.  This was very well received, and he believes that these new lights, along with the new prayer books in the pews, will foster greater devotion and a more intense personal prayer life among parishioners.

Because of advances in technology, the lights appear to be beams of natural sunlight, shining on the statues.  They’re still quite noticeable, even when the other lights in the church are illuminated, so they draw our heavenly patrons into our prayer experience even while we in Mass. 

The lights were paid for through the memorial gifts from the funeral of Helen Urban.  So, the next time you appreciate how they illumine your prayer experience, say a prayer for Helen and the consolation of her family.