| The
narthex or gathering area of the church was originally designed as a purification
area before one enters the main worship space. The ceiling is lower and the lighting
is more subdued. The baptismal font The font is recessed 2 1/2 feet below the level of the floor and is reminiscent of the ancient form of baptismal fonts in which those to be baptized went into a pool of water by descending steps and professing faith in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The three steps down and three steps out, symbolize baptism into the life of the Trinity. A window overhead is reminiscent of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the newly baptized. It was installed in 1985 and was designed by Pat Dwight. Smaller holy water fonts, made of the same material as the font, offer the opportunity to renew one’s baptism. The chandelier over the font, designed by Gernot Runschke and installed in 1998, is a swirling pattern of light reminiscent of the living waters and the Spirit of God hovering over the waters as indicated in the |
Book of Genesis at the creation of the world. At one time the confessionals were located here since reconciliation is a “second baptism” and relates to this being an area of purification. In 1989 a reconciliation chapel was provided for in Marian Chapel. Facing
the baptismal font on the east wall is the sculptural image of Saint Francis de
Sales, the patron of the parish.
|   |
made of polished black granite and weighing almost 2000 pounds, rests in the center
of the space on a black slate floor.
This image was designed and made by Wiktor Szostalo of St. Louis and placed here
in 1998 as part of the 50th Jubilee celebration of the founding of the parish.
Baptism incorporates believers into the communion of saints who are invoked in
the litany of the saints at the baptismal liturgy. The sculpture is made of welded
and cold fabricated stainless steel with color and is 7 feet tall. St. Francis
de Sales (1567-1622) was the bishop of Geneva, was a prolific writer and gifted
speaker, and is the patron saint of journalists. The parish was given the name
of St. Francis de Sales by Bishop Francis J. Haas, who established the parish
in 1948 and who had a special devotion to the bishop-saint.