The altar, made of tooled, white granite, weighs 8 tons and symbolizes Christ and his sacrifice. The ambo or pulpit, the place for the proclamation of the Word of God, and presider’s chair are of the same material. The canopy over the altar contains 9 yards of concrete, weighs 18 tons, and is free standing. It symbolizes God’s eternal presence over us.

Following an ancient tradition of the Church, the altar contains the relics of two martyrs and one saint. St. Clarus (died around 875), a priest, probably born in Rochester, England, went to Normandy where he became a Benedictine monk. He lived as a hermit and settled at Naqueville, near Rouen. When he repulsed the advances of a noblewoman, she had him killed and beheaded near Saint-Clair-sur-Eph. His feast is November 4.

St. Prosper (died around 466) was bishop of Reggio, Emilia, Italy, and was known for his charity. He led his See for twenty-two years until his death on June 25. St. Maria Goretti (1890-1902) was born at Corinaldo, near Ancona, Italy, on October 16. She was the daughter of a farmworker who moved the family to Ferriere di Conca, near Anzio. She was stabbed to death on July 6 by the son of her father’s partner, who lived in the same house with the Goretti’s, while resisting his attempt to seduce her. She was canonized for her purity in 1950 by Pope Pius XII in the presence of her murderer, who completely reformed his life after he had a vision of Maria. Her feast is July 6.

The dark oak, screen walls, on either side of the sanctuary, provide a storage area for the music ministry (on the left) and a sacristy for clergy and ministers and a storage area (on the right).