Bishop Baraga Chapel installs new stained glass windows

Work continues on the Bishop Baraga Chapel in Marquette, and the custom stained glass windows were installed Wednesday.

The Chapel will house the remains of the Catholic Diocese of Marquette’s first bishop, Frederic Baraga.

The windows were designed from the examples of existing stained glass throughout the Cathedral.  The stained glass windows showcase symbolic images from Bishop Baraga’s lifetime.

“The west facing window is going to be where the sarcophagus is going to go, and it has around the outside, it has the coats of arms from the eight diocese and arch diocese which Bishop Baraga ministered during his lifetime.  It has his coat of arms at the top of it,” Diocese of Marquette’s Development Director Terri Gadzinski said.  “The east facing will have a lifesize image of Bishop Baraga providing a blessing.”

A description of the windows from the Diocese of Marquette:

South Window

This window, directly behind the sarcophagus, contains the eight Coats of Arms of the dioceses and archdiocese that Bishop Baraga was associated with during his lifetime.  Bishop Baraga’s Coat of Arms is depicted at the top of the arch.

The image in the upper medallion depicts Bishop Baraga baptizing Chief Edward Assinins, the first convert during his L’Anse Catholic Indian Mission in 1844.  In the background, a longhouse, the traditional dwelling of the Ojibway, is pictured.  Also pictured is a church, which the Bishop helped build during his mission.

The small, center medallion, illustrates snowshoes as Bishop Baraga was known to wear them to travel great distances, in adverse conditions, to carry out his missions.

The lower medallion illustrates Reverend Honoratus Bourion aiding the Bishop in his return to Marquette. While attending the Council of Baltimore, the Bishop suffered a stroke.  Reverend Bourion assisted him to the train so the Bishop could pass on with his flock in Marquette.  St. Peter Cathedral is also pictured in the background.

West Window

The image in the top medallion has a dual meaning; representing both the Bishop’s journey to America from Slovenia, as well as his journey across Lake Superior to the Cross River.

The center medallion depicts the earth with Slovenia and the Great Lakes region highlighted to illustrate the Bishop’s native home and where he ministered to the native people in Marquette.

The large image of Bishop Baraga shows him blessing with his right hand.  In his left hand is the Ikkitowini Masinaigan, the Ojibway dictionary he had written, hence the inclusion of the quill.  He is standing on a snow-covered field along the forest edge to represent his affinity for the land.

The Chapel is being built as an addition to St. Peter’s Cathedral.  The campaign to raise $500,000 for the cathedral has just $32,000.

To make a donation, contact Gadzinski at (906) 227-9108 or tgadinski@dioceseofmarquette.org.