Dear Parishioners and Friends,
My knowledge of, and experience with singing bowls has been somewhat limited. They have their origin in Buddhist practices to accompany periods of meditation and chanting. Singing bowls are widely used for music making, meditation and relaxation, as well as for personal spirituality. Most singing bowls are rather small, about six or eight inches in diameter. They are played by rotating a suede covered mallet around the outside rim to produce a sustained musical note.
Imagine my surprise and delight in coming across a photo on Etsy back in the Spring of a large singing bowl. An artisan located in Kathmandu, Nepal sells handmade singing bowls from 4 to 24 inches in diameter. They are made using seven different metals, beaten by hand and polished to a high glossy finish.
I had been on the lookout for a suitable bowl of sufficient size to serve as a baptismal font in our church. The glass bowl which we have been using is very nice, but I’ve often felt that it got lost in the vast open space of the church. Given the number of baptisms we celebrate, I was hoping to find something that could become a more-or-less permanent fixture in our Sanctuary, and be easily seen from a distance.
When the bowl arrived in May, I immediately contacted Steve Balkun, our resident woodworker who had crafted several of our Sanctuary appointments, including the pedestal for the glass baptismal bowl. Steve and I worked out a suitable design for a pedestal for the new bowl (which weighs 40.5 pounds). Steve delivered the pedestal a few weeks ago, and the new font was put to use for the first time on September 21st. The pedestal, like the processional cross and Paschal Candle stand, is made of mahogany and walnut, and incorporates hand-carved gilded crosses from our parish logo. Casters inside the pedestal allow for easy movement when needed. Incidentally, the original glass bowl fits neatly inside the metal bowl. Steve also recently refurbished the processional cross.
I hope you will find our new baptismal font to be a beautiful work of art and craftsmanship. I also like to think of it in ecumenical terms, in that we can take something from the genius of another faith or culture and use it for a Christian ritual. I am reminded of some of the ancient temples and buildings (even public baths) of Rome that became Christian churches.
Blessings on your week ahead!
Fr. Tim Shreenan, O.F.M.
Pastor
It’s time to celebrate St. Francis!
Join us October 3 – 5th
Participate in the Men’s Sock and undergarment drive, and register for our Parish Picnic Brunch now!!
