Catholic University Students Design Altar
for Papal Mass at Nationals Park in Washington
(Source: CUA News Release)
Catholic University of America graduate students John-Paul Mikolajczyk, of Staten Island, N.Y., and Ryan Mullen, of Manchester, N.H., led the winning team in a design competition for the 4-foot papal altar to be used when Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Mass in Washington, D.C. on April 17, 2008.
The students’ winning architectural design was unveiled Jan. 28 at CUA in partnership with the Archdiocese of Washington.
At the unveiling, Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl of Washington said that the design is “a tribute to this school of architecture, Catholic University and the quality of students here.
“He’s standing at my altar,”From left to right: Father O’Connell, Rachel Bailey, Ryan Mullen, Victoria Engelstad, John-Paul Mikolajczyk and Archbishop Wuerl. Photo: Tony Fiorini, The Catholic University of America. |
|
“It’s very exciting knowing this work you designed and were so focused on doing the best you can do — all those people are going to be looking at this and you’ll be able to say, ‘He’s standing at my altar,” said Archbishop Wuerl.
Twenty-one entries were submitted for the contest, or “charrette,” which was held at CUA’s Edward M. Crough Center for Architectural Studies in January. Students, working individually or in teams of up to four people, prepared their models and drawings over an intense few days of work before the judging on January 24. The model created by Mikolajczyk and Mullen, both candidates in the master’s program at Catholic University’s School of Architecture and Planning, shows an altar with a substantial top, a repetitive pattern of decorative parabolic arches beneath it and a smaller base. The two graduate students were assisted by Rachel Bailey, of Napa, Calif., and Victoria Engelstad, of Bradley Beach, N.J., both seniors in CUA’s undergraduate architecture program.
Their model also includes a pulpit, lectern and chair that will become part of the sanctuary for the Mass that Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate April 17 at 10:00 a.m. at the new Washington Nationals baseball stadium, Nationals Park. The model shows a pulpit (or ambo) that is adorned with images of the Bible and the Holy Trinity. The tall chair back is decorated with Pope Benedict XVI’s papal coat of arms.
|
“We wanted to incorporate elements that would remind us of Christ’s active presence and work in the liturgy,” said Mikolajczyk.Photo: Tony Fiorini, The Catholic University of America. |
Mikolajczyk and Mullen will work with the CUA architecture faculty and the Archdiocese of Washington to fine-tune the design and actually construct the altar and the other sanctuary furnishings at the Crough Center.
The duo said that that for design inspiration, they spent an afternoon at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception studying the altar furnishings. “We wanted to incorporate elements that would remind us of Christ’s active presence and work in the liturgy,” said Mikolajczyk.
The top award for the design competition was a $1,500 prize. The second-place winner received $1,000 and five honorable-mention winners received $500 each.
