New Liturgical Furniture and Sanctuary Floor Design at St. Padre Pio Shrine, San Antonio

Under the masterful guidance of Liturgical Consultant Rolf Rohn, thousands of pieces of white Carrara marble were transformed into rich and elegant altars, a tabernacle throne, credence tables, a Blessed Sacrament chapel altar, ambo, reredos, and tabernacle throne at the Shrine of St. Padre Pio in San Antonio, Texas.

The altars are a gift to the St. Padre Pio Parish community and their pastor, Monsignor Patrick Ragsdale, from the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio. They were the original cherished altars from the iconic Chapel of the Incarnate Word.

Rolf praised the reuse of the liturgical items, saying, "From the old we were able to make new, more appropriate liturgical furnishings while preserving the beauty and rich tradition of these items."

"We are really grateful Rohn had the capacity to design a new set of liturgical furniture from precious altars that had been with us since 1907. It is a blessing that the altar is now used in the Shrine of St. Padre Pio as part of its worship community and for all who enter this sacred space," said Sister Walter Maher.

Rolf also designed the Shrine's sanctuary floor plan.

The Shrine of St. Padre Pio is the newest parish in the Archdiocese of San Antonio. The parish is currently raising funds for the construction of a permanent home. The altars were rededicated during a beautiful liturgy by His Excellency Archbishop Jose Gomez of San Antonio.