Tucked away, along the staircase of our choir loft, are three of the most beautiful stained glass windows in Church.

 

A smaller pair are on the top and portray Saint Dominic receiving the rosary and Saint Simon Stock receiving the scapular from the Blessed Virgin. Unfortunately, the larger, lower window is cut in half visually by the staircase itself. Yet the fortunate aspect of this obstruction is that is allows the views to get very much closer to this window than to any of the other windows in our Church. 

 

Pictured in this windows is a wonderful portrayal of Mary, Mother of All Nations. It celebrates our belief that as Mother of Jesus Christ, indeed the Mother of God, Mary is Mother of us all who are sisters and brothers to the Lord Jesus through our Baptism. This theme is similar to the new statue in our renovated Cathedral of Saint John which portrays Mary as the Mother of the Church, and also includes children of many different nations to celebrate this Marian title. 

 

This image of Mary in our stained glass windows is the same image in the artwork on our bulletin cover. This special artwork heralds our preparations for our 100^th anniversary, the Centennial of our Parish. It has been specially commissioned to enhance our celebration which will culminate in 2005.

 

But the image in our stained glass window has been modified two significant ways for our “Centennial Madonna.” The façade of our historic Church ahs replaced the figure of the Christ Child. Our church building is a symbol of our Parish family and Mary, our patroness, embracing us in a special way as the community dedicated in Her name. But Mary also see in us Her Son, for in faith we are the Body of Christ.

 

Also drawn are flowing waters. This addition is a very specific reference to our geographical location here so near the Menomonee Falls. And it is also a reminder to us of the power of the life-giving waters of Baptism through which we have been reborn and have become the children of God, and children of “Saint Mary of the Falls!”