The Celebration of the Eucharist    

The Mass is the fulfillment of the Jewish rite of Passover, recalling the celebration of Jesus with his apostles when the Eucharist was instituted. The Mass includes the penitential rite, thematic prayers and readings from the Old and New Testaments, and an offering of the gifts of bread and wine. The consecration of these gifts into the body and blood of Christ takes place when the priest pronounces the words of Jesus at the Last Supper. The faithful then receive the sacrament as the apostles did. The Mass ends with concluding prayers, a blessing, and a formal dismissal.
 

The Tabernacle  

At the present time, in the sanctuary of the church, the place of worship, there is the tabernacle on the Altar of Repose. The tabernacle contains the Eucharist, the consecrated bread, not merely symbolic, but a sign of the "real presence" of God with His peopple through the coming of His Divine Son. The tabernacle light, at the side of the sanctuary burns night and day as a reminder of this presence. In the foreground is the Altar of Sacrifice where the Mass, the rite of sacrifice, is offered and incorporates the use of candles, incense, and ablutions.


 


                     The Reconcilliation Room     

In the body of the church there is a confessional/Reconcilliation Room for the sacrament rite of Penance, or Reconciliation. Located int he rear of the church on the West side, the room is designed to either preserve the anonymity of the penitent or permit the penitent and the priest to come together for the sacrament and/or personal counsel. This allows the penitents a choice in howe they may partake of this sacrament.
 


The Baptismal Font

In the back of the church is the baptismal area with the font used for the sacrament of Christian initiation. The rite begins in the body of the church with a formal welcome, and a preparation and explanation for those to be baptised, as well as those participating and attending the baptism. At the conclusion of the opening ceremony, all present are invited to join the priest at the font to witness the rite of baptism and to join in prayers for strength and in thanksgiving. Previous generations will recall a different baptismal font. It is still located where it used to be but is no longer used.

 

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The tour is an updated version of the original text prepared by Fr. John E. Schwind, O.P. and the Holy Rosary Liturgical Committee, 1978. and to the addendums made by Anna-Marie Byrne and Edward J. McDermott, 1998; photos added by Bro. Don Kania, O.P., 2002.
 

Roman Catholic Liturgical Design

Holy Rosary Church was built in the Gothic tradition. In the sanctuary is the Holy of Holies which represents the Church Triumphant.

The prominence and honor accorded to the sanctuary is defined by its architectural location and also by the richness of material and beauty of its adornments. Visually the eyes are led directly to the altar table. From this central point of axis the ambo and the presider's chair are also given prominence. Thus, in the sanctuary of Holy Rosary, the Word of God is given center stage, that is, the Word Incarnate as Bread of Life, the Word in scripture, and the Word in the teaching authority of the church.

The Word of God

 

 

 

The Ambo
The Eucharistic Table
The Presider's Chair