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Window of the Month
Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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Featured Windows, October 2001

St. Piux X Church Windows

Building: St. Pius X Church

City: Flint

State: Michigan


Windows based on children's activities

These faceted glass windows at St. Pius X Church are two of four windows that depict children's activities during the four seasons of the year. The designs were based on children's drawings and on photographs taken of children on the church playground.

Vacation time is the theme of the upper window, which depicts children playing games under the summer sun. The Statue of Liberty, a symbol of our country, represents popular family vacation trips as well.

The lower window shows children playing football in the fall. A cheerleader at the left, the football pyramid in the center, and the player running with the ball at the right express the theme of children's autumn activity.

Designed by Henrick & Simpson Architects of Lansing, St. Piux X Church was built in 1956. These and other faceted glass windows were dedicated in 1980 after alterations to the building. They were created by Marion Owczarski, artist-in-residence at St. Mary College in Orchard Lake, Michigan. A native of Poland and a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Owczarski first gained world-wide attention for his work in restoring Poland's churches that were damaged during World War II and for his sculptures made from the iron of Nazi tanks. For the American Bicentennial, he created a sculpture representing Poles who have influenced our nation's life.

St. Pius X Church of Flint was registered in the Michigan Stained Glass Census by Robert Voto of Flint.

(MSGC 1995.0019)

Text by Betty MacDowell, Michigan Stained Glass Census, October , 2001.