LIVING WATERS

Honestly, it threw us for a loop. We were pretty far into the design process when we were informed by the Archdiocese that they require a full immersion baptismal font to be built if there are any changes proposed to the current baptismal font.  You might recall that our "old" font was basically a bowl in a stand.  It had served us well but our original plan was to build it out a little and make it look more vintage to fit in with the "new" design of the church.

The reason for having a full immersion font is for the pouring of water over the whole body for adult baptisms.  Of course a Living Waters Font also works well for baby baptisms. The font should be located in a space that is visibly and physically accessible, and should preferably make provisions for flowing water. Typically a full immersion font is at the entrance of the church. We had a lot of dilemmas:  1)  The entrance off of the chapel (where the old font was located) did not have the space  2) There really wasn't room in the back without taking out some pews, and we were committed to increasing rather than decreasing the seating capacity.  3) This new design would require plumbing and some additional electric work to create flowing water   and 4) How do you design this so that little children don't accidentally fall or climb into the water?

After exploring several options, the idea came up to take out the old glass doors in the back of the church.  This really opened up the area and made it possible to place the new font there.  That led to the ability to create new doors under the original entrance arch in the vestibule while at the same time providing the perfect space for our new Our Lady of Guadalupe devotional area.  We have moved the pews all the way to the front and the chairs to the back, allowing for more versatility for families to gather for baby baptisms. Our new Living Waters Baptismal Font is a beautiful design, incorporating intricate wood patterns and pieces of the Portoro marble that once graced the walls of the SFDS sanctuary.  It will have a pretty decorative brass grate to protect kids from accidentally getting into the water. What at first seemed to be a challenge has turned out to be an incredible blessing and one of the main focal points of our beautiful new space!

 

This year we will have an adult baptism on Holy Saturday so our new Living Waters Baptismal Font will be put to use immediately!  The church will re-open for services on Holy Thursday, April 13.  Won't you consider attending the Triduum this year to help celebrate a beautiful time of the liturgical year in our beautiful new space?

HOLY THURSDAY-April 13, 7:00 p.m. Mass

GOOD FRIDAY-April 14, 1:30 p.m. Service, 5:00 p.m. Living Stations (Spanish) and 7:00 p.m. Service (Spanish)
HOLY SATURDAY-April 15, 8:00 p.m. Easter Vigil