The Statues
The STATUES of the INFANT OF PRAGUE, the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, ST. JOSEPH AND CHRIST-CHILD, ST. BERNADETTE SOUBIROUS, ST. DENIS, ST. THERESA OF LISIEUX and OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE are hand carved and painted linden wood made by the Demetz family of Ortisei, Italy, in collaboration with Fr. Harris, John Mazzolini, and Retto Demetz.
Mary’s depiction derives from the description of the apparition at Lourdes to St. Bernadette. The statue of the latter is located above the narthex (entry vestibule). Bernadette was born 7 January 1844, later entered the religious life in 1866 under the name Sister Mary Bernard, died 16 April 1879, and was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1933. Over the altar are two flanking statues of adoring angels.
OTHER STATUES were originally displayed in the former church building on East Laurel Avenue: the SACRED HEART OF JESUS above the baptismal fonts in the main sanctuary, and the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY AND CHRIST-CHILD and ST. JOSEPH in the chapel.
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