"The interior furnishings of the Church were designed by Architectural Bronze, Inc., of St. Louis, in conjunction with the Catholic Supply Co. The altar of sacrifice, the altar of repose, the pulpit and baptismal font are constructed of travertine marble with a bronze trim. The symbol of Christ, Prince of Peace on the back wall directly above the tabernacle is constructed of dyed-colored bronze. The Greek Chi-Rho is of course the symbol of Christ, the three-dimensional crown, symbolic of Christ as Prince and bronze olive branches, Peace. The tabernacle lamp is built into the whole symbol and is directly above the tabernacle. The statuary throughout the Church is made of Italian, hand-carved wood. The handsome pipe organ is the design and craft of the Wicks Organ Company of Highland, Illinois. The pews are constructed of solid oak butcherblock."

Excerpt From
Christ, Prince of Peace Parish Dedication Booklet, March 17, 1974

Narthex or Gathering Space

Fellowship and community are key aspects of liturgy and parish life. The expanded Narthex allows for parishioners to gather after mass in an open, well lit, inviting area. As the Narthex is a separate area with a separate purpose, a second tile was chosen for the flooring. Accents of the Nave or assembly area course through the Narthex for consistency.

The entrance doors are made of mahogany with a cherry stain. Mahogany wood is a very strong and durable wood, a good choice for doors that will be exposed to the elements. At the north end of the Narthex is the original corpus of Christ, Prince of Peace, a historical and devotional depiction of the Risen Christ for many of our parishioners. The wall of the south end of the Narthex bears the Donor Plaque of Appreciation to all parishioners who helped make the renovation dream a reality. Architectural Bronze Studio fabricated the plaque that is composed of three bronzed and glazed panels. Two are inscribed with the names of our many donors and the middle section reflects how we come together as a community to tend to each other and our Church.

"The Earth Has Yielded Its Harvest. God, Our God Has Blessed Us."
Psalm 67

Lastly, just prior to entering the worship space of the church stands the two brick columns that previously formed the outside of the church. The height and strength of these columns sets a formal, awe-inspiring tone as we enter the church, the House of God.

Sacristy

The Sacristy is a room not only for the storage of vestments, linens and other articles used in divine service, but also a room for preparation and prayer for all ministers who will be participating in liturgical services. This room was generally located in the front of a church, adjoining the sanctuary, prior to Vatican II. During that period of time, only the clergy and the altar servers would be preparing for the liturgy in this room. There were also very few times when long processions would be used at the liturgies, therefore, the Sacristy's close proximity to the sanctuary was important.

Today, most churches have the Sacristy located near the entrance of the Gathering Space where the procession for the liturgy will begin and end. In addition to the clergy, the altar servers, lectors, music ministers, Eucharistic ministers and others participating in the liturgical services utilize this room for prayer and preparation. This room also contains the vestments worn by the clergy, the albs worn by the altar servers, linens, sacramental supplies and other items needed for liturgies.

The sacristy in our church prior to the renovation was the "smallest of all the churches in the Archdiocese." This space became insufficient with scarcely enough room for the clergy to stand, much less anyone else who needed to consult with them on the liturgy that was about to be celebrated. Our new Sacristy not only allows for ample space to store the necessary items, but also satisfies the space needs for everyone who is preparing for the liturgy. Our new Sacristy is a vast improvement for meeting our needs now and in the future.

Meditation Room

This multi-functional room is on the north side of the Gathering Space. Some of its purposes include the following: small meetings during the week, the gathering of the children's Liturgy of the Word during the 9 and 10:30 a.m. weekend masses, RCIA candidates scripture discussion at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday mass, as a changing area for the newly baptized at the Easter Vigil and for brides. The priests can also meet with new parishioners in the meditation room.

Baptismal Font

The rite of Baptism, the first of the Sacraments of the Initiation, requires a prominent place for the celebration. Initiation into the Church is entrance into a Eucharistic community united in Jesus Christ. Because the Rites of Initiation of the Church begin with Baptism and are completed by the reception of the Eucharist, the baptismal font and its location reflect the Christian's journey through the waters of Baptism to the altar. That is why one of the focal points in the design of the church is its baptismal font. Our new font is located just inside the entry to the nave or worship area to signify the entrance into the Christian community through the baptismal waters. The site is in direct line with the altar to show the integral relationship between Baptism and Eucharist. The shape of the font is a seven-foot square. A square font is symbolic of the tomb of Christ. We go into the water to die and rise with Christ. Also, Baptism is a community event, thus, the design and size were chosen to assist with the community feeling. The font is made of granite and built so that full submersion of an adult is possible. The water is always flowing because we are baptized with "Living" water, which we are reminded of each time we enter the church and bless ourselves with the holy water.

Ambry - A Place for Sacred Oils

An ambry is the cabinet where holy oils are stored. We keep three oils there: the oil for the anointing of the sick, the oil for the anointing of the catechumens and chrism for baptism, confirmation, priesthood and the consecration of altars. In our Archdiocese, Archbishop Burke blesses these oils in large containers at the Chrism Mass celebrated in the morning of Holy Thursday at our Cathedral Basilica. They are then poured into smaller vessels and brought to all the parishes of the Archdiocese where they are entrusted to the care of the community.

Our ambry was designed, created and given to us as a gift from our liturgical artist, Steve Erspamer, S.M. The symbolism of this unique door is as follows.

• There are three distinct sections to the door. The top section holds the holy Chrism used in Baptism, Confirmation, Priesthood and the Consecration of Altars. In times past, kings were anointed with oil as a sign of consecration. Thus, a crown symbolizes the resting place for holy Chrism.
• The symbols of a branch and a star signify healing in the second section which holds the Oil of the Sick.
• The Cross is placed in the bottom section of the door for the Oil of the Catechumens. The sign of the cross seals those preparing for Baptism with Christ.

Arrangement of the Assembly

The Adoration Chapel or Reservation Chapel is the small area of seating behind the sanctuary wall. The tabernacle is the focal point of the chapel, a place for "reserving" the consecrated host, the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Private devotion to the Paschal Mystery, Christ living, dying, rising and coming again, is found in praying before the Blessed Sacrament. At Christ, Prince of Peace we have adoration on the first Friday of every month from 12 p.m. until 8 p.m. and on the 4th Tuesday of every month from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m. for the intention of increased vocations in the chapel, unless otherwise announced.

Adoration Chapel

The rite of Baptism, the first of the Sacraments of the Initiation, requires a prominent place for the celebration. Initiation into the Church is entrance into a Eucharistic community united in Jesus Christ. Because the Rites of Initiation of the Church begin with Baptism and are completed by the reception of the Eucharist, the baptismal font and its location reflect the Christian's journey through the waters of Baptism to the altar. That is why one of the focal points in the design of the church is its baptismal font. Our new font is located just inside the entry to the nave or worship area to signify the entrance into the Christian community through the baptismal waters. The site is in direct line with the altar to show the integral relationship between Baptism and Eucharist. The shape of the font is a seven-foot square. A square font is symbolic of the tomb of Christ. We go into the water to die and rise with Christ. Also, Baptism is a community event, thus, the design and size were chosen to assist with the community feeling. The font is made of granite and built so that full submersion of an adult is possible. The water is always flowing because we are baptized with "Living" water, which we are reminded of each time we enter the church and bless ourselves with the holy water.

Reconciliation Space

Our reconciliation rooms are spacious with the option of face to face or behind a screen. Behind the screen there is an option either to kneel or sit. The face to face option has a chair for the penitent.

Meditation Garden

Off of the north side walkway is a Meditation Garden that was dedicated in 2001 to Fr. Joe and Fr. Bob in honor of their service and guidance given to the parish. Here, parishioners can gather outside in fellowship or devotion with comfortable seating and a variety of perennial flowers and grasses. The center of the garden bears a bronze plaque of dedication...

..."Happy are those who dwell in the house of the Lord. Continually they praise you."
Psalm 84

In the Church's history and tradition, the altar was often placed over the tombs of the saints or the relics of saints were deposited beneath the altar. The presence of the relics of saints in the altar provides a witness to the Church's belief that the Eucharist celebrated on the altar is the source of grace that won sanctity for the saints. The custom of placing small relics of martyrs or other saints in an altar stone and setting this in the Mensa (relic stone) has changed since the Second Vatican Council. Relics of martyrs or other saints may be placed beneath the altar, as long as the relics are of a size sufficient for them to be recognizable as parts of a human body and that they are undoubted authenticity. Relics are no longer placed on the altar or set into the altar stone.
The relics of the martyrs St. Clement and St. Aurelius are the original relics of our church. We have a copy of the document that certifies the relics dated August 27, 1973. There is a polished granite stone with a cross in it marking the place of the relics beneath the altar.

Original Relics of Christ Prince of Peace,
Are From The Martyrs St. Clement & St. Aurelius

Processional Cross

The Processional Cross is fashioned from bronze and is mounted on a design of bronze and red oak. Sturdy and of noble materials, it leads the processions at the beginnings and end of each Mass. The documents state a processional cross must bear a corpus. The figure is a hybrid of two historical forms, Christus Patiens and Christus Triumphans. Christ, the patient and silent, and Christ the Triumphant and Victorious King. The artist, Steve Erspamer S.M., chose them as the forms that reflected the representation of Christ most appropriately for our own church. The background for the cross was part of our original processional cross for continuity between the old and the new.

The Altar

The Altar, the Holy Table, should be the most noble and most beautifully designed and constructed table the community can provide. It is the common table of the assembly, a symbol of the Lord, at which the presiding minister stands and upon which are placed the bread and wine, their vessels and Sacramentary. We kept our original altar marble for historical reasons and because the marble is a timeless, strong element. The base of the altar was re-fashioned with red oak and steel.

The Ambo

The ambo is a standing desk for reading and preaching. Like tha ltar, it should be beautifully designed, constructed of fine materials and proportioned carefully and simply for its function. The ambo represents the dignity and uniqueness of the Word of God and of reflection upon that Word. The marble from the base of the original altar was used to add appeal to the ambo and again, keep what we originally had as part of the new renovation. Red oak and black walnut woods were added in a complementary fashion to the rest of the sanctuary furnishings.

Chair for the Priest Celebrant

The role of the priest is to preside over the assembly and direct prayer. Thus, the chair of the priest celebrant should be visible to the entire congregation. It should be made of sturdy, worthy material and uniquely define that it is the seat for the presiding priest, yet, not be grandiose in finish. The celebrant's chair is constructed of red oak and black walnut woods with an accent of marble from the church's original altar. The use of this marble completes the consistency between the sanctuary spp9ointments of the altar, the ambo and the celebrant's chair. The deacon chair is a complementary piece to the celebrant's chair and is positioned in the sanctuary on the priest's immediate right.

Our Crucifix

A crucifix is a cross with the Corpus of Christ on it. A crucifix must be in every sanctuary where the sacrifice of the Mass takes place since this sacrifice is the same as that of Calvary. The crucifix symbolizes all the merits of Jesus' actual death on the cross and those merits are continuing to be produced in our Eucharistic Worship.

Our crucifix is hand carved from linden wood, a rather rare and high quality wood, and was crafted in Germany. The corpus of the crucified Christ reflects Christ's Kingship as many images of Christ were shown in the period of the 8th to the 11th century. The Corpus also shows Christ with His eyes open. This is how the ancients portrayed the Resurrection; that Christ, though he died, still lives. Looking into the open eyes of Christ represents a window to look into the sacred and spiritual world and to be seen and loved in return for who we are as humans. The wooden cross is constructed of black walnut, oak and gold leaf.

There is an artistic connection in our Crucifix with our city's patron saint, Louis IX of France as well. The crown has three fleur-de-lis appearing on it. This symbol was the crest of St. Louis' family, the Valois line. St. Louis IX was widely known for his quickness to forgive. As our Prince of Peace, Jesus gives us the peace that comes from forgiveness.

Tabernacle

The purpose of the tabernacle is to serve as a place of permanent repose for the consecrated Eucharist. Since the tabernacle holds the Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the requirements of a "worthy" tabernacle are one which is solid, immovable, opaque, locked and beautiful in design. During the renovation, our original tabernacle was redesigned with a textured bronze and a new pointed top piece to increase the attributes of strength and beauty. It rests on a pedestal of oak and black walnut with a shelf that can be pulled out to place the monstrance with the Eucharist for adoration. The sanctuary lamp burns continuously directly in front and above the tabernacle when the Eucharist is inside.

Stations of the Cross

The stations of the cross began after Jesus died and rose from the dead when people began making visits to Jerusalem to walk in Jesus' footsteps. The traditional 14 stations became standard in the 18th century

The biggest challenge at Christ, Prince of Peace Church in determining the construction for our stations of the cross was the lack of wall space. Ultimately, the floor became the ideal choice to have the stations visually present and a part of our everyday worship without cluttering many items on a small wall. You can really walk the stations of the cross through the entire church. The ability to have this movement throughout the church was a key determinant in the final decision for the stations. Each station is made of a polished granite tile that has been sandblasted with the cross, the Roman numeral of the station and the scripture citation of each station. The citations are based on the Pope John Paul II versions of the stations of the cross.

During the holy season of Lent our parish offers this community the opportunity to come together and walk the stations of the cross. Whether celebrated individually or with the community, the stations of the cross offer a way for the faithful to enter more fully into the Passion and Death of the Lord and to serve as another manifestation of the pilgrim Church on its homeward journey. The stations at Christ, Prince of Peace now found in the floor of the worship space quite clearly depict the "Way of the Cross."

Consecration Candles

The consecration candles are the four candles affixed to the walls that mark the four boundaries of the church structure, north, south, east and west. The candles rest in a granite base with a cross that has been sandblasted onto the granite. The purpose of these candles is to signify that the entire church belongs to Christ. During the rite of dedication, the Bishop anoints the consecration candles with sacred chrism. The candles are then lit for anniversaries of the dedication and on solemn occasions.

Candle Arc

Fabricated from steel and bronze, the candle arc is a strong and noble piece of art for the purpose of individual intentions to the Holy Family. Candles are a symbol for us of God's revelation to us throughout our salvation history as fire and light. Donations can be given to the rectory who will assure the candle is promptly lit or can be inserted into the envelope provided and placed in the nearby basket.

Holy Family Statues

The Holy Family statues were originally chosen by Fr. Stolzer, our founding pastor, for two reasons: Jesus, as a young boy, represents the Prince of Peace and the Holy Family is a model for our parish families to emulate. The statues were carved from wood and made in Italy. Once here, they were hung on the brick wall to the north side of the altar.
During the renovation it was decided to keep these statues as a representation of our original church. The natural alcove that occurred from moving the cry room became an ideal location for the statues.

The tapestries for each liturgical season were designed by Steve Erspamer, S.M. and quilted by Mary Kay Fitzpatrick of Kirkwood. The role of the tapestries is to help set a mood or atmosphere for the season through color, texture and symbolism rather than to be displayed as a depiction of an event.

Tapestries Design By:
Steve Erspamer, S.M. - Quilted by Mary Kay Fitzpatrick

Advent Tapestry

The season of advent is the time of waiting and preparing for the Lord's appearance as one of us. In the Northern Hemisphere, Advent corresponds to the coming of winter when the earth is shrouded in snow and chill and nature seems to have surrendered to death. We are encouraged during this season to look inward, to listen and to watch, to prepare our hearts, to make ready a place for the reign of God to begin again in us.
The deep violets and blues of the tapestry signify the night sky, the darkness of winter. Here and there, the darkness is cut by a shaft of light.

Christmas Tapestry

The days leading up to Christmas present us with images of the coming Savior in the antiphons of evening prayer. One of the most beautiful is O Dayspring. "Into the dark and cold of winter breaks a blinding light of warmth of brilliance." The gospels tell us of the night sky filled with light, the song of angels and the promise of peace. A star leads those who are watchful for signs to the foot of the manger. The tapestry brings to fullness what was hinted at in the Advent hanging.

Ordinary Time Tapestry

The Ordinary Time tapestry symbolizes the cross as the tree of life. The red of the cross reminds us of the Passion and Death of Jesus. The colors purple and violet reflect the glory of His Kingship and victory. The greens symbolize the life we all share through Jesus' cross. The tapestry is meant to be a celebration of Ordinary Time or the time outside of our other liturgical seasons. The four quadrants alternate colors as they move around the cross which reminds us of the changing rhythms of our lives and the steady passage of time.

The Lent Tapestry

Lent is the season of penance and reflection. The colors associated with this season in the liturgy are violet for penitence and scarlet for the Passion of Christ. Many of the readings of Lent talk about the desert as a place of loneliness, desolation and retreat. In the desert, the starkness of the landscape and the quality of the light allow us to see with clarity and heightened perception. In our own country during this season, we are making our way through to the end of winter and waiting for the coming of spring and new life. The blacks, grays, and muted browns are the colors of the desert and winter. The reds and violets remind us that each of us must endure a bit of the Passion ourselves on the path to self-knowledge. It is not easy to see our flawed nature, but true grace comes when we realize that God loves us as His creation, not just for who we might become in the future, but right now, just as we are.

Easter Tapestry

The tapestry is composed of two section, water and fire. Both are integral symbols to the Easter Vigil and to our salvation history. The fire is a symbol of the Light of Christ, the morning star that never fades, taken from the Exultet of the Easter Vigil. In the Old Testament, it is the visible sign of God's presence to the Israelites as they flee from the Egyptian armies which pursue them. Thus, the pillar of fire and the pillar of smoke are the beacons that lead the Israelites by night and day, and also a defense against their enemies. The water is also a symbol of our salvation story. By water, God destroys the earth in the story of Noah, but saves His faithful in the ark. By water, the Israelites escape from Pharoah's armies. By water, we go down into the water to die and rise with Christ. From the water comes a tender shoot, the symbol of new Life in Christ.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help

The original painting of Our Lady is above the main altar of St. Alphonsus Ligouri in Rome. Redemptorist priests who, for the last 250 years, have promoted devotion to the Blessed Mother under the title, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, staff the Church. This devotion with its prayers has spread worldwide. This Byzantine portrait depicts Jesus as a young child having rushed to His Mother Mary when He had a vision of angels who were predicting His death. Thus, the instruments of his crucifixion appear in the painting. We are invited to "rush" to Mary when we are in need of help.

Renovation of the Organ

Wicks Organ Company built the original organ in 1972. It was unique since the pipes and keyboards were all attached in a 92 square foot case. It had 15 "stops" or tone variations such as flutes or reeds. Though strong enough to support the bigger feasts, the organ lacked softer tones and depth. In February 2000, the organ was dismantled and taken to Highland, Illinois to be reworked by the Wicks Company. Among the results is a movable console that has become useful to accommodate concerts and various choir arrangements. We now have a total of 50 "stops" to choose from to vary the sound of the pipes. Most of the pipes from the old organ were incorporated into the new arrangement along with some new tones such as chimes and festive trumpet that are produced digitally. The organ also has MIDI capability, which means new tones can be "learned" by the organ by a keyboard or computer source. Finally, the casework was rebuilt and finished with black walnut and oak to match the other liturgical furnishings of the church.