Featured Window

Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Click any image to enlarge.

MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: Christ Church Detroit

Studio Name: Baxter Glass Art

City: Detroit

Window Shape: 3 (arched)

Date of Window: 2016

Subject/Title of Window: St. Kateri Tekakwitha

Brief Description of Subject: This window is located in the stairwell leading up to the gospel side balcony and overlooks the "Mother and Daughter Garden" of the Church. The window was crafted to be seen from the Garden as well as the stairwell.

Description by the designer and maker of this window, Ann W. Baxter.

"The centerpiece of the window is a portrait of St. Kateri Tekawitha (1856 - 1680), a Native American woman known as "Lily of the Mohawks" who was Beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1980 and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. She was a major influence on Rebecca, to the point that "Kateri" was chosen by Rebecca as her Confirmation name. St. Kateri was ostracized by her tribe when she converted to Christianity and dedicated her life to Jesus. She took a vow of chastity, helped to spread the word of God and unfortunately, died very young. But she is in the heart of many, and remains the Patron of the environment, ecology, people in exile and Native Americans.

In the window, St. Kateri is placed in a natural setting that includes pine trees, a dog, and squirrel at her feet. There is a large cross rising up behind her, centered by the Holy Spirit radiating amber rays through the background. The circle around the Holy Spirit is the center of the word "JOY", a word frequently used to describe Rebecca who radiated that sentiment even as she fought the debilitating cancer that would take her young life.

At the top of the cross is a bouquet of white lilies, significant both as a symbol of peace and as a reference to St. Kateri.

The cobalt blue glass border around the entire window includes squares with discreet images of special meaning to Rebecca and her family."

This memorial window for Rebecca Kelly was donated by her father, John F. Kelly.

Inscriptions: In loving memory
Rebecca Lynn Kelly
January 2, 1980 - December 6, 2015


Condition of Window: good

Height: 63"

Width: 17"

Type of Glass and Technique: Opalescent Glass, Antique or Cathedral Glass, Lead Came

The MSGC is a constantly evolving database. Not all the data that has been collected by volunteers has been sorted and entered. Not every building has been completely documented.

All images in the Index are either born-digital photographs of windows or buildings or are scans of slides, prints, or other published sources. These images have been provided by volunteers and the quality of the material varies widely.

If you have any questions, additions or corrections, or think you can provide better images and are willing to share them, please contact donald20@msu.edu