‘Risen Jesus’ blessed as Kāpiti church complex completed

by GLEN McCULLOUGH 

The Our Lady of Kāpiti church complex was completed on August 5 when the “Risen Jesus” stained glass window in the chapel was blessed by Fr Michael McCabe, the previous parish priest. 

The “Risen Jesus” window at the chapel at Our Lady of Kāpiti church.

The original concept for the window came from artist and parishioner, Johannes Sijbrant, and was completed by Olaf Wehr-Candler at Pukerua Glass Studio and Rachel Pfeffer of Totaranui Glass Studio.
In the window, Jesus is wearing traditional robes, including the small prayer beads at the hem, and has the stigmata marks on his hands. 

Fr McCabe said that the window was like an icon, in that it comes to a point in our hearts. He thanked everyone who had contributed to the window, in particular the late Keith and Nola Banks, who were the major donors, and in whose memory the window is dedicated.
Father McCabe read the Gospel passage from John 20:11-17, in which Mary Magdalene encountered Jesus after he had risen. This Gospel passage had been the inspiration for the design. It is our prayer, he went on to say, that anyone who comes here to this silent, sacred space, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, would be inspired by the window to hear Jesus say, as he did to Mary Magdalene, “who are you looking for?” “Because she is the first witness to the risen Lord, Pope Francis has called Mary Magdalene ‘the apostle to the apostles’.”