WHITESTONE — The stained-glass windows of a church can do more than serve as a beautiful backdrop for the celebration of Mass. They can also deepen one’s connection to their Catholic faith.
That was the idea behind “Windows of Faith,” a special afternoon concert presented at St. Luke Church in Whitestone on June 7.
The purpose of the concert, which featured both the St. Luke Adult and Children’s Choirs, was aimed at helping parishioners understand the meaning of the church’s stained-glass windows in their midst and to learn to appreciate their beauty and artistry, said Jessica Tranzillo Smith, the church’s music director.
The combined choirs offered musical reflections on 18 of the church’s 50 stained glass windows.
Tranzillo Smith, who serves double duty as the church’s music director and cantor, carefully selected the songs and hymns to match the theme of each window. The concert featured a variety of musical styles, from spirituals to soaring hymns.
“These windows sparkle on a sunny morning. It’s just unbelievable how beautiful they are,” she said. “I’m very lucky. I get to look at them five or six times a weekend.”
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When asked if she thought the concert would encourage parishioners to take a closer look at the windows the next time they attend Mass, she replied, “How could they not? There is so much beauty here.”
That was also the hope of Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Raymond Chappetto, who resides at St. Luke Church.
“People come to church on Sunday and they don’t always take notice. They are so used to the environment,” he explained. “But now, with this exposure to the windows in song, it might bring them to appreciate more what we have here, the gift that we have in these beautiful windows.”
Parishioner Christine Campbell said she often looks up at the windows when she walks into church on Sundays.
“I always do it. I really appreciate the windows,” she said, adding that her personal favorite is a window depicting Jesus with small children.
The stained-glass windows at St. Luke Church were installed at various times throughout the church’s history.
St. Luke Church was originally constructed in 1898, and the windows in the nave were installed when the church was built. These windows include depictions of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary on the left side and scenes from the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus on the right side.
St. Luke Church added a transept to the building in 1939-1940 and windows with solid blue glass — with no scenes from Scripture — were installed in what was supposed to be a temporary measure.
However, that temporary measure lasted several decades until 2010, when the church commissioned a series of eight windows. Five of the windows depict scenes from the Gospel According to St. Luke.
Msgr. John Tosi, the pastor at the time, invited eighth graders from St. Luke Catholic Academy to suggest themes for each of the new windows to bring St. Luke’s Gospel to life.
The kids chose such themes as Luke 5:1-11, in which the saint described Jesus telling his disciples to cast their fishermen’s nets out into the deep water to catch fish.
Father John Costello, the church’s current pastor, said he hoped parishioners would come away from the concert with a deeper faith.
“Through the history of the church, we’ve used many different means to try to convey our faith, to teach the Scriptures. And when you walk through this church and you look at the stained-glass windows that tell the stories of the Joyful Mysteries, the different passages from St. Luke’s Gospel, with the different parts of Jesus’ life, they all tell a story,” he said.
“I think it’s a great gift because we’re surrounded by this beauty all the time,” Father Costello added.