Moving from the narthex into the nave we see a contemporary image entitled, “Mary, the Mother of God,” who invites those entering to worship her Son.

This bronze sculpture was designed and made by Barbara Saint Denis of Muskegon. The opening in the image represents the womb of Mary.

When one looks through the opening one sees the altar which in Catholic tradition symbolizes Christ.

Jesus is the “blessed fruit” of the womb of Mary (Lk. 1:42) who responded to God’s call to be the mother of the Word made Flesh.

The oldest tradition views Mary as Theotokos, the Greek title for God-bearer, first applied to Mary by the Council of Ephesus in 431 and as Mother of the Church, conferred by Pope Paul VI in 1964, during the Second Vatican Council.