St. Mary's Church, Helsinki
St. Mary Catholic Parish (
Like other Finnish Catholic parishes, which are all part of the
St. Mary's was established in 1954, the second Catholic congregation in the western Helsinki area to be established since the
Parish church
The church was designed by architect Kaj Salenius in the Modern style. The sanctuary is flanked by paintings of the patroness, the Virgin Mary, in depictions of the Woman of the Apocalypse and of the Assumption of Mary. These, along with the baptismal font, window paintings, and statue of Mary were created by the Dutch artist Lou Manche.[3] The statue is a Madonna in the form of a Seat of Wisdom and carved from stone.[3]
The current altar, set in the middle of the chancel, contains relics of Saint Bridget of Sweden and of her daughter Saint Catherine of Sweden. The old altar, set against the wall, contains relics of Saint Pius X, Saint Christopher, and Saint Maria Goretti. The altar wall, contributed in 1985, is a natural stone mosaic by German artist Claus Kilian of the Crucifixion of Jesus, surrounded by the Four Evangelists.[3]
In the rear of the church is a mechanical two-manual organ with seventeen registers by Swedish artist Richard Jacoby in 1965. The bell tower has three bells which are rung on Sundays before Mass and on special occasions.[3]
See also
References
- ^ a b Pyhän Marian seurakunta (in Finnish), St. Mary Catholic Parish, retrieved November 10, 2016
- ^ a b Seurakunnan historiaa (in Finnish), St. Mary Catholic Parish, retrieved November 10, 2016
- ^ a b c d Kirkkorakennus ja taide (in Finnish), St. Mary Catholic Parish, retrieved November 10, 2016