Stained Glass windows created for St.Luke Church, Erie, Pa.
by Jacqueline M. Shuler
Castle Rock, CO

The church style is that of a basilica,
with tall side walls and high clerestory
windows. The side windows face east and west, with the front facing north.
Right photo shows the window over the front door.

The East windows in medieval cathedrals faced therising sun, symbolic of the arrival of Christ. Radiating warm geometric lines emanate from the one piece of clear glass which emphasize Christ as Light of the world. The scriptural quote form the gospel of John speaks clearly of the impact of the "Word becoming Flesh". During the day, the church is flooded with color; warm rays in the morning from the east, and cool rays from the setting sun in the west.

Size: 20 feet high, 70 feet long.

The West windows in medieval cathedrals illustrated the Last Judgment, the end of the world. Here, John speaks of the divine as the beginning and the end of life, nourishing mankind with renewal symbolized by the "living waters". The imagery here
is cool, flowing water punctuated by bright ripples, taking the last rays of the sun.

Size: 20 feet high, 70 feet long.

The North window is a combination of the cool,
flowing colors of the west windows and the warm, sharp lines of the east windows. This
fiery image warms the north light as it flows
through the glass.
The Old Testament speaks of the pillar of fire
in the desert which symbolizes the presence of
God. In the New Testament, the gospel of John
states: "I am the Light of the world; he who
follows me need not fear the dark." John 8:12

30 feet high, 20 feet wide.

When I was designing the windows, I was focused on line, color and symbolism, not even guessing the transforming power of the stained glass upon the light filtering through each pane.

Standing in the church after the windows were
installed, I was amazed by the transforming
effect of the light streaming through the colorful
glass. Depending on the time of day, the sacred
space is filled with an ever-changing warm to cool spectrum of soft colors." Jacqueline Shuler

These two windows are the smallest, set from
floor to ceiling.

The waters of Baptism are the focus of the blues inthe Baptistery window (left). The central symbol, largest and strongest, is that of love or charity. As St. Paul said, "Faith, hope, love, these three, but the greatest is love." On the left is the cross, symbolizing faith; on the right, the anchor, symbolizing hope. These are the foundation virtues for the true Christian.

The window on the right is in the Sacristy, the room where the priest dresses in his vestments for Mass. "I will go to the altar of God, to God who gives joy to my youth." These words are said while vesting.