By Jeff Peters
Catholic Herald correspondent
Couple publishes picture book to support mission's work
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Original stained glass windows, over a century old, serve as a dramatic background for the crucifix of Christ at St. Francis Solanus Church in Reserve. Over two dozen stained glass windows grace the historic church located on the Lac Courte Oreilles reservation near Hayward. (Photo by Jeff Peters) |
RESERVE -- A postcard book titled "The Windows of St. Francis Solanus Church" is one of the newest items for sale at the St. Francis Solanus Mission on the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation near Hayward.
Funded by long-time mission supporters, Bill and Julie Zimmer, of Fairway, Kan., who own a summer home near the mission, the book features 22 removable full-color postcards featuring the beautiful stained glass windows found throughout the picturesque church.
"Proceeds from the sale of this book will help ensure the continuation of the church and school," said school principal, Sr. Felissa Zander, SSSF, who's been at the mission since 1961.
Zander, who wrote the descriptions for each of the postcards, said it took the Zimmers three summers to complete the entire project, including the color photography used in the book.
"They are wonderful people, who have been very supportive of the mission over the years," she said. "They are faith filled people who trust in the Lord for everything. They have been very good friends."
Zander said sales of the book have been steady this summer at the gift shop located in the mission's grade school adjacent to the historic church. "People like the postcards and the detailed descriptions about the windows.
"It fits in well with the other items we sell in the gift shop," she said, noting some of the sale items include various Ojibwa jewelry, beadwork, dolls, belts, birchbark baskets and trays, buckskin moccasins, dreamcatchers, quilts and postcards.
"All of the items for sale in the gift shop are unique to the Ojibwa people. These are quality items made by Lac Courte Oreilles tribal members," Zander said. "We only sell items made by the Ojibwa.
"The workmanship of these items is really great. It also gives local artists a chance to showcase their work. People come to this shop looking specifically for Ojibwa work. We are the largest outlet for these items in the area," she said, noting the gift shop has been in operation since the 1920s and is a major source of funding for the mission.
"The gift shop is wonderful public relations for tribal members and the mission. Visitors realize how talented these people really are and they come to truly appreciate their work and their heritage. It promotes their culture to a wide variety of different people, people from all over the world," Zander said.
An example of the postcards found in the book is the colorful "Guardian Angel with Child." In the book, Zander describes the window: "Located in the vestibule of St. Francis Solanus Church, this window depicts a guardian angel watching over an orphan child. The flowers represent the Ojibwa love of nature."
Other postcards include the Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, Matrimony, Faith, Hope, Charity, the All-Seeing Eye of God, God the Father, God the Creator.
Other windows included in the book are Jesus Lamb of God, the Nativity, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, the Holy Spirit, Christ the King, Coronation of Mary in Heaven and the St. Francis Solanus Mission.
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2001