Parish Church of St. Dunstan and All Saints

Parish Church of St. Dunstan and All Saints
Stepney, London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Province of Canterbury

Church Poster

"St Dunstan's, Stepney is an Anglican Church which stands on a site that has been used for Christian worship for over a thousand years. It is located in Stepney High Street, in Stepney, London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

Bell Tower

"In about AD 952 the Bishop of London — who is also Lord of the Manor of Stepney — replaced the existing wooden structure with a stone church dedicated to All the Saints. In 1029, when Dunstan was canonised, the church was rededicated to St Dunstan and All Saints, a dedication it has retained.

"Up until the early fourteenth century the church served the whole of Middlesexeast of the City of London. Then new churches were built at Whitechapel and Bow. The existing building is the third on the site and was built of Kentish ragstone mainly in the fifteenth century (although the chancel dates from 200 years earlier). A porch and octagonal parish room were added in 1872.

"The church was restored extensively in 1899, at a cost of £5,600. The vestries and some of the main building were destroyed by fire on 12 October 1901, including the organ which had carvings by Grinling Gibbons. The restoration cost £7,084,^[1] and the church was re-opened in June 1902 by the Bishop of Stepney (at that time Cosmo Gordon Lang.

Church Bell Tower

"The ring of ten bells, the heaviest weighing 28¾ hundredweight, which hang in the belfry, were cast at the local Whitechapel Bell Foundry and are tuned to C#. The seven oldest bells were cast by Thomas Mears and Son, Whitechapel, in 1806. The bells were re-hung in 1899.^[1] Three were recast in 1952 when repairs were made to the tower.^[3] The bells are mentioned in the nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons: "When will that be, say the bells of Stepney."

Parish Church of St. Dunstan and All Saints

"A fine triple Sedilia is found in the chancel.The rood is late Anglo Saxon. Of note amongst the plate is a cup and patten dated 1559 and a beadles's staff and vergers wand of 1752.

"The church is surrounded by a churchyard of nearly seven acres (28,000 m²). In 1658 William Greenhill was appointed vicar whilst retaining his position as a preacher at Stepney Meeting House. He held this post for about seven years, till he was ejected immediately after the Restoration in 1660.

"Shortly after this, the churchyard was enlarged to cope with the massive number of deaths during the Great Plague of London. In one eighteen-month period 6,583 died, with 154 being buried in one day in September 1665.

"The church has a long, traditional link with the sea and many sailors were buried here. It was once known as the 'Church of the High Seas'. The graveyard is also where Roger Crab, the 17th-century hermit who lived on a diet solely of herbs, roots, leaves, grass and water, is buried." (Link 1.)

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Photos: Taken in 2018 by RW with his iPhone while travelling in

                 London from his home in Switzerland.

Link 1" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Dunstan%27s,_Stepney

Link 1" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Dunstan%27s,_Stepney

                                                                    Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

Basilica de la Concepcio

Basilica de la Concepcio

Barcelona, Spain

Church Plaque

"The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and Assumption of Our Lady is a basilica in Barcelona, Catalonia. The church originated as the Jonqueres Monastery, that was moved stone by stone when the land of the monastery was to be demolished. In 1879, a bell tower was added from the church of San Miguel which was also going to be demolished. The rectory stands on the left side of the bell tower and is a historicist building built at the end of the 19th century. On 20 February 2009, Pope Benedict XVI granted the title of minor basilica to the church, which became the eighth basilica in the city." (Link 1.)

Nave and Altar

"Basilica-Església de la Puríssima Concepció
Built: 1293-1448
Founded: 1214
Function: Parish church; minor basilica; former monastic community
Address: Aragó 299

"The parish church of the Immaculate Conception and Assumption of Our Lady is Barcelona’s newest basilica, bringing the city’s present total to eight. Named by Pope Benedict XVI on the Feast of the Assumption 2009, it is actually one of the city’s oldest existing ecclesiastical buildings. The story of how it arrived at its present status, despite years of neglect, decline, and near-demolition, is a testimony to its parishoners and to the faithful in Barcelona to not only have this beautiful structure survive, but thrive.

Rear of Sanctuary

"The original monastic community of Benedictine sisters of Sant Vicenç de Jonqueres was founded in 1214 in the town of the same name, located just outside of Sabadell, a city situated about 10 miles from Barcelona. Apparently the sisters had some problems getting organized, and in 1261 following appeal to the Bishop of Barcelona, they were invited to move to that city. The nuns left their quarters in Jonqueres temporarily for Sabadell in 1273, while suitable buildings were located. The actual move was not completed until 1293, when the nuns took up residence on what is now the Carrer de Jonqueres, on the edge of the Gothic Quarter.

Side Altar

"Their new convent was named Santa Maria de Jonqueres, recalling their origin but distinguishing themselves from the parish of Saint Vincent where they had experienced so many problems. By 1300, with the construction of the first permanent chapel on the site, the convent was officially renamed Sant Jaume de l’Espasa, since the nuns had adopted the Rule of St. James of the Sword, better-known as the famous religious-military order of Santiago. However, the community continued to be referred to colloquially as Santa Maria de Jonqueres.

Side Altar

"The community quickly becae associa
ted with the daughters of the noble families of Barcelona, and grew extremely wealthy. Their original holdings were enormous, covering numerous square blocks of the old city. The two-story cloister was completed before 1400, and in 1448 the consecration of the enormous Catalan Gothic monastic chapel, which replaced the simpler version that had been built between 1293-1300, took place with great fanfare.

:"The nuns were expelled and their community dissolved in 1810, during the Napoleonic period, and in 1820 the convent was converted into a military hospital. The site subsequently became a prison, and still later a military depot. In 1867, the chapel itself was named a parish by the Archdiocese, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the remains of the convent, which were in very poor repair by this time, were finally torn down in 1868.

Side Altar

"During Barcelona’s expansion in the mid-19th century, the complex was slated for demolition because it lay along a proposed route to connect the northern part of the new city to the seafront. Fortunately, due to foresight by the Archdiocese and the local gentry, between 1869 and 1871 the former chapel and the cloister were moved, stone by stone, from their original location in the Gothic Quarter to their present site in the Eixample, the 19th century grid-like district which houses much of Barcelona’s famous 19th and 20th century buildings. The church was then re-consecrated in 1872 and became the first parish in this new district of the city. In 1879, when the Church of St. Michael was torn down in order to make way for the expansion of City Hall, the portal of the church went to the Basilica of La Mercè, but the bell tower was given to the parish of La Concepció." (Link 2.)

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Photos: Taken in 2018 by RW with his iPhone while travelling in

                 Spain from his home in Switzerland.

Link 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_the_Immaculate_Conception_(Barcelona)

Link 2: https://catholicbarcelona.com/2014/03/01/la-concepcio-updated/

                                                                    Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

St. Joseph (Foyer Statue)

Mount Joseph Catholic Hospital
Vancouver, B.C. Canada

"Joseph (Hebrew: יוֹסֵף‎, romanized: Yosef; Greek: Ἰωσήφ, romanized: Ioséph) is a figure in the canonical gospels who was married to Mary, Jesus' mother, and was Jesus' legal father.^[1] In the Apocrypha, Joseph was the father of James, Joses, Jude, Simon, and at least two daughters. According to Epiphanius and the apocryphal History of Joseph the Carpenter, these children were from a marriage which predated the one with Mary, a belief that is accepted by some select Christian denominations. Perspectives on Joseph as a historical figure are distinguished from a theological reading of the Gospel texts.^[2]

"Joseph is venerated as Saint Joseph in the Catholic Church, Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Church, Anglicanism and Lutheranism.^[3][4] In both Catholic and Protestant traditions, Joseph is regarded as the patron saint of workers and is associated with various feast days. Pope Pius IX declared him to be both the patron and the protector of the Catholic Church, in addition to his patronages of the sick and of a happy death, due to the belief that he died in the presence of Jesus and Mary. In popular piety, Joseph is regarded as a model for fathers and has also become patron of various dioceses and places.(Link 2)

Chapel

"Mount Saint Joseph Hospital opened in Vancouver in 1946, but its history begins many years earlier, with the dream of a young Quebec girl named Délia Tetreault.

Altar Area

"In 1902, Delia Tetreault of Marieville, Quebec, helped found the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception – the first missionary congregation for women in Canada. Nineteen years later, four Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception moved across Canada to Vancouver. In a home on Keefer Street, they provided health and education services primarily to the Asian community.

"By the time the Sisters marked the 25-year anniversary of their arrival in Vancouver, their work had outgrown three buildings, leading to the opening of Mount Saint Joseph Hospital (MSJ) in 1946. During their years in Vancouver, a total of 173 Sisters have served through health care, education, parish work and family counseling. Each and every Sister has been faithful to the teaching of Mother Délia.

 (Right of Altar Statue)

Left of Altar Statue

"Today, MSJ is a 240-bed acute and extended care facility with an international reputation for excellence in providing for the needs of multi-faith and multi-ethnic communities. MSJ was founded on the principles of adaptability and responsiveness to ever-changing community needs, and continues to fulfill that mission. 

Sanctuary Banner

"A HISTORY OF MILESTONES

1946 — Mount Saint Joseph Hospital opens.
1948 – Mount Saint Joseph Hospital is recognized as a general hospital.
1956 – A 50-bed wing is added, thanks in part to the work of the newly created Ladies’ Auxiliary.
1960s – A dramatic drop in maternity admissions leads to a decision to close the maternity ward.
1965 – The chronic care department is converted into an Extended Care Unit, with state-of-the-art physiotherapy facilities.
1969 – A new three-bed Intensive Care Unit is created.
1970 – The Day Care Surgery Centre opens.
1979 – The Short Stay Assessment and Treatment Centre opens, establishing the first specialized geriatric service of its kind in BC.
1984 – Mount Saint Joseph Foundation is established.
1989 – The Lifeline Emergency Response System is introduced (Now the second-largest program of its kind in Canada, the system allows at-risk individuals to wear a button linking them to an emergency centre 24 hours a day, allowing them to safely remain in their own homes.)
1991 – An addition to the fourth floor paves the way for the new pediatric unit; two years later the hospital joins forces with BC’s Children’s Hospital to share expertise and to jointly operate MSJ’s expanded pediatric wing.
1992 – MSJ creates the positions of director of Multicultural Services and a coordinator of Interpreter Services." (Link 1.)

Sanctuary Side Windows

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Photos: Taken in September 2019 by SW.

Link 1: http://www.providencehealthcare.org/hospitals-residences/mount-saint-joseph-hospital/overview/history

Link 2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph

Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

Sant'Agostino di Catania

Chiesa di Sant' Agostino Church

Catania, Sicily, Italy

"The church of Sant'Agostino was built in the central area of ​​the city. A splendid example of the Catanese Baroque, it was built in 1615 on the design and work of G. Palazzotto, who kept faith with his architectural style, making a valuable contribution to the city of Catania. It was originally dedicated to St. James and only later was dedicated to St. Augustine. In 1637 the Augustinian friars, to approach the inhabited center, flanked their convent to the building, moving from a place near the church of S. Domenico, outside the urban nucleus.

Entrance

"Rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693, the church has a single nave plan and a baroque façade. The interior is embellished by the ancient high altar, made of marble with wooden Crucifix. Then there are six side chapels with marble altars, adorned with statues depicting St. Augustine, St. Heart, St. Francis of Assisi and Our Lady of Fatima, works of Giuseppe Stuflesser from Ortisei.

The entrance to the Church, raised above the road surface, has four columns in Corinthian style and a symmetry between the lower and upper part of the building. At the top we find a window grafted on columns that facilitates the entry of sunlight into it. On the outer margins there are two statues depicting Saint Augustine who wins the heretics and St. Thomas of Villanova who gives alms to the poor.

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Photos: Taken by RW  in Oct. 2018 with Iphone while travelling in Italy.

Link 1: https://www.google.ca/search?q=Chies+S.Agostina,+G.+Pallazzotto,+sicily&rlz=1C1KYPB_enCA770CA770&tbm

Link 2: http://www.cassiciaco.it/navigazione/monachesimo/chiese/italia/sicilia/catania.html

                                                                         Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

Chiesa San Cristoforo

Chiesa San Cristoforo
Catania, Sicily, Italy

Church Sign

"It was raised in the Middle Ages in 1300 and was rebuilt in 1700 following the collapse due to the earthquake of 1693. The upper part of the façade is simple where you can see a central window. The portal instead, is characterized by a frame full of floral elements of Baroque style, above the portal there is the bust of San Cristoforo. The only news we have of this Church is that its shape is rectangular, for many years it is closed to worship. After being closed for about ten years, in June 2015, at the behest of Father Rosario Andrea Lo Bello, the Church of San Cristoforo has been reopened."(Link 1.)

Sanctuary

Sanctuary Altar

Sanctuary Wall Art

Sanctuary Wall Art

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Photos: Taken in October 2018 by RW  while travelling to Italy.  
Link 1: https://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://www.ortigia.it/contenuti/chiese/381-chiesa-di-san-cristofo

                                                          

                                                                        Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

Sant'Agata Cathedral

Sant'Agata Cathedral

Catania, Sicily, Italy

Cathedral Sign  with Description and Diagrams

Sant'Agata at Night

Sant'Agata at Night

"No visit to Catania is complete without seeing the cathedral dedicated to the city's patron saint, Sant'Agata. The virgin-martyr was killed in 351 for refusing the lecherous advances of a Roman lord. Her mortal remains are in reliquaries in the cathedral.

Plazza del Duomo Elephant Statue

"The frosted facade is a cake-like beauty that sets off the Piazza del Duomo, studded with icing-like statues, balustrades and adornments along the roofline. It is a lovely cathedral, though the current version dates to mid-1700s. The first church was built here in the Norman era, between 1086 and 1094. It was expanded and adorned over the years, and the Benedictine monastery was added next door. The church utilized some columns, friezes and capitals recycled from ancient Roman ruins. Then the 1693 earthquake dismantled many parts of the original structure, including the bell tower, which fell and demolished some of the church below it. The cathedral was rebuilt, giving it the style you see today, while retaining the portions of the Norman structure that had been left intact, most notably the apse. The interior is a soaring space, with beautiful elements and artwork, and in impressive pipe organ." (Link 1.)

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Photos: Taken in October 2018 by RW  while travelling to Italy.  

                                                           

Link 1: https://www.summerinitaly.com/guide/cathedral-and-badia-of-sant-agata

Link 2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agatha_of_Sicily

                                                                         Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

Basilica Santuario Madona Delle Lacrime

Basilica Santuario Madona Delle Lacrime

Syracusa, Sicily, Italy

Basilica Santuario Madona Delle Lacrime

"The basilica Madonna delle Lacrime sanctuary is a minor basilica and Marian shrine erected in memory of the miraculous tearing of a plaster effigy depicting the Immaculate Heart of Mary , placed at the bedside of the Iannuso spouses at their humble home in via degli Orti in Syracuse , in 1953 .

In 2002, John Paul II raised the sanctuary to the dignity of a minor basilicawith the name of "basilica sanctuary Madonna delle Lacrime"

Diagram and Description of Church

"According to tradition, the miraculous event was repeated from 29 August to 1 September 1953 in the general emotion of an immense multitude of faithful, in the house of the Iannuso spouses. Collected the tears were subjected to a scientific analysis according to which they would be human tear liquid. The devotion that followed was of enormous proportions. The small effigy of the Madonna delle Lacrime , first provisionally admitted to the nearby Euripide square from 1953 to 1968, was placed inside the sanctuary , in the current crypt and remained there from 1968 to 1994, before being moved inside the upper temple of the Sanctuary.

Sanctuary

Sanctuary Altar

"The work was designed in 1957 by French architects Michel Andrault and Pierre Parat following an international competition announcement but the structural works are by engineer Riccardo Morandi ^[1] . The construction began in 1966: ...

"The construction was completed after about 28 years and the sanctuary was consecrated, inaugurated and dedicated to the Madonna delle Lacrimeon 6 November 1994 by Pope John Paul II ...

Interior  of Sanctuary Spire

"The structure is subject to various interpretations. The architects set out to structurally implement the concept of the elevation of humanity to God . In fact, the plant with its circularity wants to represent humanity that reaches out to God. Other meanings attributed are those of: beacon, identifiable with Mary that leads to the port that is Jesus; tent, within which the Mother welcomes her children to lead them to the Father; lily turned upside down, finally a tear that comes down from above seen in the dynamics of the impact on the ground." (Link.)

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Photos: Taken in October 2018 by RW  while travelling to Italy. 

Link:  https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_santuario_Madonna_delle_Lacrime (translation)

                                                                          Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)