Restored Stations of the Cross enhances prayerful beauty to parish garden
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Dorothy K LaMantia| Correspondent
Parishioners of St. Mary Parish, Barnegat, are delighted to see the restoration of the Stations of the Cross set in the garden surrounding the Adoration Chapel.
CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTO GALLERY ON THIS STORY.
Gone were the roofed wooden structures, so vulnerable to the drying rays of the sun or the pelting of rain, in which the aluminum-cast figures had been housed or, as some say, obscured.
Instead, visitors are impressed by the silver-toned figures set against a black acrylic background, framed in white and affixed to white posts.
“People have been commenting how brightly the figures shine,” said Msgr. Kenard Tuzeneu, pastor. “The office has received many compliments.”
Ralph Bilgeshouse, supervisor of maintenance for the parish, designed and dedicated two months to restoring the Stations of the Cross.
He drew his inspiration for the design from the Stations of the Cross at the rosary garden at the Basilica of Mary, Mother of the Universe in Orlando, Fla., which he visited while on vacation.
“I saw the stations there were not set in a structure. There was no enclosure. I like that the Stations themselves were the focus. Because our figures were set inside the dark wood structures, they were difficult to see. I remembered what I saw in Florida when it was decided to restore the old Stations.”
The figures of Jesus along the way to Calvary were removed and sent to an auto body repair shop for repainting.
“We used an environmentally-friendly automotive paint, base coat and clear coat, which gives the figures a lot of depth and shine and will withstand rain. I was surprised how great they looked and how they popped once they were attached to the black background,” said Joe Pepe, shop manager of Stetson Automotive, Waretown, who painted the 14 figures.
When asked how he felt about painting religious figures beside fenders and bumpers, he simply stated that he and his staff, “looked at it like we had a mission from God.”
Bilgeshouse’s work has been appreciated by visitors to the parish, including families of patients at Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin.
A spokesman for SOMC explained that when patients’ families seek places of prayer and solace, staff will recommend they visit St. Mary’s Adoration Chapel, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
One such family, whose son was in the intensive care unit, thanked the hospital for its recommendation, saying they found great peace at the chapel, especially in the new Stations. Ironically, the Stations reminded them of their family vacation in Orlando and the Stations at the very basilica where Bilgeshouse was first inspired.
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By Dorothy K LaMantia| Correspondent
Parishioners of St. Mary Parish, Barnegat, are delighted to see the restoration of the Stations of the Cross set in the garden surrounding the Adoration Chapel.
CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTO GALLERY ON THIS STORY.
Gone were the roofed wooden structures, so vulnerable to the drying rays of the sun or the pelting of rain, in which the aluminum-cast figures had been housed or, as some say, obscured.
Instead, visitors are impressed by the silver-toned figures set against a black acrylic background, framed in white and affixed to white posts.
“People have been commenting how brightly the figures shine,” said Msgr. Kenard Tuzeneu, pastor. “The office has received many compliments.”
Ralph Bilgeshouse, supervisor of maintenance for the parish, designed and dedicated two months to restoring the Stations of the Cross.
He drew his inspiration for the design from the Stations of the Cross at the rosary garden at the Basilica of Mary, Mother of the Universe in Orlando, Fla., which he visited while on vacation.
“I saw the stations there were not set in a structure. There was no enclosure. I like that the Stations themselves were the focus. Because our figures were set inside the dark wood structures, they were difficult to see. I remembered what I saw in Florida when it was decided to restore the old Stations.”
The figures of Jesus along the way to Calvary were removed and sent to an auto body repair shop for repainting.
“We used an environmentally-friendly automotive paint, base coat and clear coat, which gives the figures a lot of depth and shine and will withstand rain. I was surprised how great they looked and how they popped once they were attached to the black background,” said Joe Pepe, shop manager of Stetson Automotive, Waretown, who painted the 14 figures.
When asked how he felt about painting religious figures beside fenders and bumpers, he simply stated that he and his staff, “looked at it like we had a mission from God.”
Bilgeshouse’s work has been appreciated by visitors to the parish, including families of patients at Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin.
A spokesman for SOMC explained that when patients’ families seek places of prayer and solace, staff will recommend they visit St. Mary’s Adoration Chapel, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
One such family, whose son was in the intensive care unit, thanked the hospital for its recommendation, saying they found great peace at the chapel, especially in the new Stations. Ironically, the Stations reminded them of their family vacation in Orlando and the Stations at the very basilica where Bilgeshouse was first inspired.
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