The Interior of Church--The Sanctuary
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The word Sanctuary is from the Latin word sanctus, meaning, "holy." It is the focal area of the liturgical action. As the place of holiness and nearness of God, "sanctuary" is now understood more broadly as the whole worship space, created by the gathered faith community. The sanctuary in our church contains two altars, a tabernacle, the baptistry, presider's chair (and others), lectern and reredos. The Tabernacle (from the Latin tabernaculum, meaning, "tent") is the "little house" in which the Blessed Sacrament is kept, awaiting distribution to the homebound. The Sanctuary Lamp always burns nearby the tabernacle as a reminder of the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, Jesus, the "Light of the World." This one was donated by the sisters and children of Most Pure Heart of Mary School for a cost of $2000. Galileo began observing pendulum motion by watching a suspended sanctuary lamp in a cathedral in Pisa. This disocovery led directly to the invention of the invention of the first accurate clock, using a pendulum as a timing element.

The Altar is a table of solid material for the meal of sacrifice--the Eucharist. The back altar is 12 feet long and seven inches thick and made of a single piece of imported Italian botticino marble, resting on six columns of bland and gold marble, with brass Chi-Rho and Alpha-Omega lettering set between two center columns. Contained within the altars are cavities called sepulchers, or reliquaries. Relics of two martyred saints are contained in each. Our relics remain, as of yet, a mystery.

The Paschal Candle sits nearby. During the Easter Vigil, the candle was lowered into the pool, and the Church prayed that the Holy Spirit unseal this font to become the womb of new life for the church.

The Baptistry, or, baptism area contains the baptismal font, the ambry, the oils and the paschal candle. The ambry (from the Latin word, "cupboard") on the wall contains three oils. The initials engraved on the vessels are S.C.; O.C.; and O. I. These are initials for latin words: Sacred Chrism--S.C.--Sacrum Chrisma--Used in baptism, confirmation and holy orders Oil of Catechumens--O.C.--Oleum Catechumenorum--Used to bless and strengthen those preparing for baptism, holy orders Oil of the Sick--O.I.--Oleum Infirmorum--Used in the annointing of the sick

The Crucifixion Group above the Altar is of hand-carved lindenwood, depicting the Blessed Mother at the foot of the 17-foot cross and 7-foot corpus.

Fr. O'Connor once explained to a visiting reporter that "rarely if ever, has a statue of Mary been placed above the Altar. But since the Church s dedicated to Her Most Pure Heart, if anyone was at the foot of the cross, She surely was."

Apostolic Symbols surround the crucifixion group. These are Venetian gold checked mosaic symbols surround the crucifix. Each represents an apostle: