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Home , Francis de Sales, Francis of Assisi

WELCOME TO United by the Most Blessed Sacrament

We are a diverse, urban, historic parish located in West Philadelphia, not far from OUR the University of the Sciences and the University Born in 1567, Saint Francis de Sales grew of Pennsylvania. up to become an inspirational ; a powerful Our parish was founded in 1890, and the writer; a friend of the poor; and a saint who, like church, with its colorful Guastavino tile dome, has his model, Saint Francis of , promoted a been a neighborhood landmark for over a century. simple and devout life. HOW TO GET INVOLVED Our first parishioners were immigrants -- mostly Some of his story was told by stained There are many ways to connect with us! Some of Irish and German; today we are very eclectic. In glass artist Niccola d’Ascenzo in the lower half of these include RCIA religious instruction for those 2007, SFDS merged and blended with Most Blessed Sacrament Parish (founded in 1901; our long windows. On the St. side of the who wish to learn more about Catholicism; SFDS th church, starting at the left, is young Francis School; and the PREP (Parish Religious formerly at 56 and Chester). A Vietnamese learning the catechism from his mother in Education Program) for children who do not community was part of our parish from 1975 to (France). The middle window has him receiving attend . IHM Literacy Center 2018. A Hispanic community joined us in 2013. his First Holy Communion, and the window on volunteers teach English to recent immigrants Music is an important part of our worship: the right shows him receiving his father’s from around the globe, and the knitting Crafts at the 10:15 Mass, a 1914 Haskell-Shultz blessing when he took Holy Orders in 1593. Ministry creates items for the needy. Knights & organ accompanies a traditional choir open to all Across the aisle, on the Saint Mary side Ladies of offer various activities who “share an interest in the performance of of the church, Saint Francis de Sales is a priest, through the year. Thanksgiving and quality sacred and liturgical music.” preaching a mission at Annemasse. The middle Outreach always needs volunteers. The Parish Come join us! Choir is always looking for new members. window shows him as a bishop, co-founding the 4625 Springfield Ave. order of the Visitation, an order of , with St. Jane Chantal. The right-hand window depicts his MASS TIMES: Philadelphia, PA 19143 deathbed in 1622. Saturday 9AM, 5 PM (vigil); Sunday 7 AM, 10:15 AM, Noon (Spanish); What happened in the spaces between the Daily 7 AM (8 AM Summer). windows? Francis was appointed Bishop of in 1602, but resided in nearby , Rectory Phone: (215) 222-5819 because Geneva was under Protestant control. Saintfrancisdesales.net There, he worked with gentle firmness to keep the Catholic faith alive in his diocese. He is known for The Religious of the Assumption associated sliding written under the doors of the with our parish offer prayer and Scripture groups. faithful who could not, by law, attend mass -- Contact [email protected] which is how he came to be named the patron saint of journalists. He is also patron saint of the Find more parish stories and historic photos at deaf, based on a he performed. https://sfdshistory.wordpress.com A BRIEF TOUR Sanctuary Rose Windows Architect and parishioner Henry D. Threaded around the top of the Sanctuary D’Ascenzo Studios of Philadelphia Dagit designed our church with its distinctive walls, at the front of the church, is a quote from the crafted the four large round “rose” windows. Byzantine domes and Romanesque arches. He 26th Psalm: “I have loved, O Lord, the beauty of Records confirm that the one behind the altar planned many local churches, but this – his family thy house; and the place where thy glory depicts the , and the window in the choir loft parish – may be his most notable work. dwelleth.” A separate quotation behind the altar, shows St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music, but the Construction began in 1907 and finished in 1911. “Indeed, the Lord is in this place”, is ’s other two are unrecorded. The domes were crafted by Rafael exclamation after dreaming of angels on a ladder The window is based on an Guastavino, who perfected a traditional Spanish to heaven (Genesis 28:16). The two inscriptions by . The other figures shown are technique for constructing arches and domes using remind us that we are in sacred space. Saint , Saint Paul, Saint layers of tiles without interior framework and Above the altar is a , and Mary Magdalen. bracing. Much prized, Guastavino arches and Christogram (the overlapped first three letters of The window on the 47th Street side of our domes are featured on landmark buildings IHSOUS, the Greek church is based on a painting by Andrea del Sarto, nationwide, including Ellis Island Registry Hall, name for ) centered and features Mary on a pedestal, holding Baby the U.S. Supreme Court building, and the Penn in a triple-entwined vine Jesus, with Saint on one side, and Museum. Our 62-foot diameter main dome is representing the Holy Saint John the Evangelist on the other. The unique among them because it does not have Trinity of the opposite window shows Mary in heaven. The two exterior copper or other roofing above it. A long- Father, Son, and Holy windows may commemorate the founding date of term church project is currently Spirit. The mosaic above the Mary altar features the parish and laying of the cornerstone. underway (Donations always welcome!). another Trinity-entwined vine, with a dove and

triangle at its center signifying the Holy Spirit. The rose window in the arch of the sanctuary, with God Long Windows Dome Symbolism the Father at the top, offers a third interpretation, The long windows show scenes from the to create a trinity of across the sanctuary. Our church interior is rich with life of Saint Francis de Sales in the lower half, and symbolism inspired by Byzantine art from the The glass mosaic the life of Jesus in the upper half. On the Saint Greek-speaking part of the Eastern Roman Empire crucifixion scene above Joseph side of the church, the story of Jesus begins 500 to 1450 AD. Following that tradition, the the altar, crafted to with the Annunciation, followed by the dome symbolizes the heavenly realm, with the shimmer mystically in Adoration of the Shepherds, and a scene of Life Eye-of-God peering down through an oculus candle light, was designed at Nazareth (note that young Jesus is helping to window in the center. by local artist and British build a cross!). On the Mary side of the church, the The six-pointed stars in the dome immigrant Frederick on the Mount is followed by the Naming represent the six days of Dimble Henwood. He of Peter, and the Agony in the Garden. The top creation -- and also the House also painted a series of of each window features a related Old-Testament of – the lineage of Jesus. murals at Most Blessed prophecy in . Sacrament. The cross at the center recalls the Easter story. Four rays The forward-facing marble altar, with its extending from the cross form relief sculpture of the Last Supper, came from Finally, at the back of the church, the eight-pointed Star of that heralded Most Blessed Sacrament when the two parishes look for two angel sculptures above Jesus’ birth. So, all together, the star designs merged. the holy water basins between the symbolize creation and ; Old Testament Italian Sculptor Adolfo de Nesti carved doors. Architect Henry Dagit’s young and New; in the unending circle of eternity. many of the marble sculptures in our church, as daughters, Josephine Leonide and The dome is supported on four columns well as the friezes on the façade (He is also known Anna, modeled for these exquisite with mosaic medallions representing the - for designing the sculptures on the exterior of the pieces by Adolfo de Nesti around writing Evangelists: Matthew (angel), Mark (lion), Wilson Building – the Mayor’s Office -- in 1910. Luke (Ox), and John (Eagle). Washington DC)