The first stained glass window installed on August 30, 2007 depicts the sacrament of baptism. 

This sacrament is the first sacrament to be received which bring us into a relationship with Christ and His Church. This is the first of the three sacraments of initiation, the second is Eucharist and the third is Confirmation.

The sacraments of initiation are represented in the three windows on the south wall of the  church.

“Baptism taken from the Greek word baptizein means to “plunger” or “immerse.” The “plunge” into the water symbolizes the catechumen’s burial into Christ’s death, from which he rises up by resurrection with Him, as ‘a new creature’”.

St. Gregory of Nazianzus said, “Baptism is God’s most beautiful and magnificent gift… We call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal, and most precious  gift. 

It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; grace since it is given even to the guilty; Baptism because sin is buried in the water; anointing for it is priestly and royal as are those who are anointed; enlightenment because it radiates light;
clothing since it veils our shame; bath because it washes; and seal as it is our guard and the sign of God’s Lordship.”

Dove

A symbol of the Holy Spirit and is used especially in representations of our Lord’s Baptism and the Pentecost. It also symbolizes the release of the soul in death, and is used to recall Noah’s dove, a harbinger of hope.
 

Water

Is a sign of life and death, and a sign of cleansing and purification.
 

Scallop Shell

The scallop shell is the symbol of Baptism, and is found frequently on Baptismal fonts.  The dish used by priests and deacons to pour water over the heads of catechumens in Baptism is often scallop shaped.​

The green pillars and yellow bands are consistent through out all seven windows. These elements reflect the existing decor of the seating and the other religious art in the church, creating harmony. 

St. John is often depicted baptizing Christ with water poured from a scallop shell.  The shell with three drops of water has become a common symbol of baptism.  The three drops of water also represent the Holy Trinity. The Gospels do tell us that when Jesus had been baptized he went up out of the water, the heavens opened and then he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove. (Matt 3:16, Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22)

Traditionally the Dove is rendered with a nimbus about it’s head, but here instead, springing from above left are three rays of golden light one of which strikes the scallop shell and two rays touching the dove and the water in the window.

The rays in this window are balanced on the other side of the altar by three more rays in the Eucharist window. This would imply that the Spirit of God is coming from above and encompassing the altar and the cross. The Dove descending indicates divinity.  In a more general sense the Dove indicates the power of God at work in men.

The window was designed and built by Susan Alexander who is a local artist here in Gobles. She has designed and built the stained glass windows in the Gobles Public  schools and also a window for the Gobles United Methodist church. 

Design for the window started on March 25, 2006. The design was submitted to our Futures Committee to review and after some discussion it was decided that we have Msgr. Tom Martin review the designs to insure that they were theologically correct.  A meeting was set up with the Artist, Mary Jo Kennedy, and Deacon John to meet with Msgr. Martin.  This design was approved as it was originally presented. 

Construction started on this window on May 28, 2007 and was completed on August 22, 2007 with installation taking place on August 30, 2007. Susan Alexander said the design time was about three weeks.  The hours for cutting, and copper foiling each piece took 82.5 hours and soldering both sides of the window took 11 hours. 

The Baptism window has 152 pieces with the smallest piece being the right eye of the dove. 

The blessing of the Baptism window was done by Fr. Robert F. Creagan, on Sunday October 14, 2007 during the 9:30am Mass. 

The oak woodworking around the window was built and designed by Mr. Tim Schoonard of Marywood Studio’s, Inc. Tim placed the stained glass window in the oak frame he built and placed it in its present location.

Each window frame has the chi rho symbol on it. 
The symbol is a reminder that Christ is the source of all grace given in the sacraments.
The Chi and Rho are the first two letters (XP) of ‘Christ” in Greek XPIΣ TOΣ (Christos). 

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Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, Page 312, par 1214,  2 Cor 5:17, Gal 6:15; cf. Rom 6:3-4; Col 2:12

St. Gregory of Nazianzus, Oratio 40, 3-4:PG 36, 361C