The team at Rohn & Associates Design was deeply encouraged by the enthusiastic response we received at the 2018 Conference on Catholic Facility Management (CCFM) in Austin, Texas. It was a privilege to gather with pastors, diocesan leaders, architects, and parish building committees who share a commitment to strengthening the liturgical life of the Church through thoughtful liturgical design, church master planning, and sacred art.
Our mission is to help parishes and dioceses create worship spaces that are not only beautiful, but also liturgically correct, theologically meaningful, and designed to support the celebration of the Mass and the sacramental life of the Church. Through decades of experience in Catholic church renovation, new church construction, sanctuary design, and sacred art programs, we guide parishes through the complex process of shaping environments that foster reverence, unity, and prayer.
One highlight of the conference was the remarkable turnout for the tour of our recently completed work at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Austin, Texas, a newly constructed 37,000-square-foot parish church. Rohn Design provided the complete liturgical design and sacred art program, working closely with the parish and project team to coordinate the many elements required in the planning of a modern Catholic church.
The project includes custom marble liturgical furnishings, patterned stone flooring, a monumental carved crucifix, intricate mosaic work, and a comprehensive sanctuary design that visually expresses the church’s theological theme, “Trinity through the Cross.” Crowning the space is an extraordinary 72-foot mosaic dome, composed of more than 10 million hand-chiseled tiles, making it one of the largest mosaic domes in the United States.
Overlooking the sanctuary and the assembly, the dome presents a sweeping biblical narrative that unites Eucharistic symbolism, Trinitarian theology, and the heavenly kingdom in a powerful expression of sacred art. This monumental work demonstrates how architectural planning, dome mosaics, liturgical furnishings, and sacred imagery can be integrated into a cohesive visual theology that enriches Catholic worship.
During the event, Rolf Rohn spoke about the vital role a liturgical designer plays in coordinating the many participants involved in a church project. From architects and engineers to parish building committees, clergy, artists, and artisans, successful church construction and renovation requires a unified vision that respects both Catholic liturgical tradition and architectural excellence.
A qualified liturgical designer helps ensure that every aspect of a church—from the altar, ambo, and crucifix to the sanctuary layout, sacred art program, and overall spatial planning—works together harmoniously. This integrated approach is essential whether a parish is undertaking new church construction, sanctuary renovation, historic restoration, or long-range church master planning.
