The Albertus Magnus Chapel in Sitzmann Hall has four tryptic stained-glass windows that were originally from Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lawrence, Massachusetts. The Gothic revival-style church building was completed in 1935-36 as a final step in a parish building project that also included a rectory, convent, grotto and two schools.
The parish and schools were served for many years by the Marist Fathers and Holy Union Sisters. The French provenance of these two orders may be a clue to the reason that two of our windows feature French saints (St. Louis and St. Joan of Arc) and another features John the Baptist, the patron saint of French-speaking Canada.
In 2004, the Archdiocese of Boston consolidated seven neighboring parishes into three and sold the Sacred Heart property to a developer. Thanks to a group of generous supporters of Catholic Studies, four sets of the windows were acquired and restored for our chapel in Sitzmann Hall.
THE ST. AUGUSTINE WINDOW
LEFT WINDOW: St. Augustine (354-430) is pictured with his mother, St. Monica. Gift from the Koch Family.
CENTER WINDOW: St. Augustine of Hippo with the symbols of his office and legacy. Gift from the Koch Family.
RIGHT WINDOW: St. Augustine and a boy carrying a seashell, a symbol of the study of theology. Gift from Nicole Bernardi.
THE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST WINDOW
LEFT WINDOW: St. Zachariah offering incense in the temple in Jerusalem when the angel Gabriel appears to him. Gift from Alumni.
CENTER WINDOW: St. John the Baptist wearing camel hair and standing by the Jordan River. Gift in Memory of Richard A. Kostick.
RIGHT WINDOW: St. John the Baptist baptizing Jesus in the Jordan River. Gift from Msgr. John C. Ward ’44.
THE ST. JOAN OF ARC WINDOW
LEFT WINDOW: St. Joan of Arc being burnt at the stake in 1431. Gift from the Koch Family.
CENTER WINDOW: St. Joan of Arc depicted as victorious in heaven. Gift from Joseph P. Gearen.
RIGHT WINDOW: St. Joan of Arc as a young shepherdess. Gift from Faculty and Staff.
THE ST. LOUIS KING OF FRANCE WINDOW
LEFT WINDOW: St. Louis King of France as a young boy learning the Catholic faith from his mother, Blanche of Castile. Gift in Honor of Don Briel.
CENTER WINDOW: St. Louis, dressed in his royal regalia holding a sword to represent his military might and holding the relic of the crown of thorns. Gift in Honor of Don Briel.
RIGHT WINDOW: St. Louis being consecrated by a bishop to fight in the Crusades. Gift in Honor of Don Briel.
This story is featured in the summer 2023 issue of Lumen.
