Rohn & Associates, specialists in liturgical design, sacred art, and custom liturgical furnishings, was honored to design and fabricate a complete suite of Carrara marble sanctuary furnishings for the new sanctuary of the Church of the Incarnation in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. This project was a collaborative effort involving liturgical designer Rolf Rohn and the parish pastor. Together, they created the altar, tabernacle throne, ambo, baptismal font, and monumental crucifix, forming a unified worship space rooted in the theology and artistic tradition of the Catholic Church.
At the center of the sanctuary stands the altar, the heart of the Eucharistic celebration. Carved in luminous white marble, it features a radiant mosaic depicting the Lamb of God. The Lamb carries a white banner with a red cross, representing Christ’s sacrifice, redemption, and triumph over sin and death. The shimmering background evokes the glory of heaven, drawing the faithful into contemplation of the sacred mystery made present upon the altar.
The tabernacle throne, designed to complement the altar and ambo, incorporates a gold mosaic featuring the Tree of Life, symbolizing eternal life, spiritual growth, and Christ as the source of all life. The throne highlights the sacred presence of Christ in the reserved sacrament.
The ambo continues the theological and visual language of the altar and throne. Its inlaid mosaic surfaces reflect Christ as the living Word, making the proclamation of Scripture a sacred act fully integrated into the sanctuary’s design. Like the altar and throne, the ambo’s form and presence invite the faithful into reflection and participation, uniting the Word of God with the Eucharistic celebration.
The baptismal font, harmonizing with the sanctuary furnishings, includes a central cross set into the basin, symbolizing Christ as the source of new life and welcoming the faithful into the community of the Church through Baptism.
The Roman-style crucifix completes the sanctuary. The corpus itself is the meticulous work of skilled Italian woodcarvers, while the cross was crafted by a talented local artisan. Measuring 7 feet 6 inches tall, 6 feet wide, and 8 inches deep, the carved body of Christ was developed through two small-scale study models to ensure precise proportion and artistic refinement before the final carving. Rolf also contributed resources toward the corpus and produced a life-size printed design used for parish fundraising, enabling parishioners to envision and support the final crucifix.
Together, the altar, tabernacle throne, ambo, baptismal font, sacred mosaics, and crucifix establish a cohesive sanctuary for the celebration of the sacred liturgy. Through careful design and craftsmanship, the project expresses the enduring tradition of Catholic sacred art and serves the spiritual life of the vibrant parish in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.
