Earlier this year, Rohn & Associates, led by liturgical designer Rolf Rohn, completed the sacred interior of Christ the King Catholic Church in Kilgore, Texas. Brought in during the final stages of construction, the studio refined the sanctuary design, coordinated custom liturgical furnishings, selected finishes, and developed a cohesive color palette to unify the space. Working closely with the Very Reverend John Gomez and parish leadership, every element—from altar and ambo to tabernacle and baptismal font—was carefully integrated to support both liturgical function and the parish’s vision for a prayerful, inspiring environment.
We designed and crafted the altar, ambo, tabernacle pedestal, baptismal font, ambry, and credence table in marble and a richly grained red oak, each adorned with a hand-carved dogwood motif accented in 23k gold leaf. Italian travertine marble was used for the mensa, furniture tops, and twisted columns, bringing both durability and quiet elegance. By echoing the dogwood motif found in the church’s stained glass windows, the composition achieves a visual and symbolic harmony—creating a unified and elevated worship space.
According to the Legend of the Dogwood, at the time of Christ’s crucifixion, the dogwood was a majestic tree whose strong branches were used to craft His cross. The tree was said to be so sorrowful about its cruel purpose that Jesus proclaimed never again would the dogwood grow large enough for it to be used in the same manner. Instead, its flowers would form the shape of a cross, with two long and two short petals surrounding the center of a crown of thorns stained with blood, serving as a perpetual reminder of Christ's sacrifice.
Our designers meticulously detailed the furnishings. The altar mensa is incised with five crosses representing the wounds of Christ and contains a concealed reliquary within the dogwood pattern. The tabernacle pedestal features carved lettering gilded in 23k gold leaf: “…but then an angel touched him and ordered him to get up and eat” (1 Kings 19:5). This reminds us that angels, our companions, care for us and point us to Christ for nourishment. The ambry displays a wood-carved coat of arms for the current Bishop of Tyler, Joseph Strickland.
US-based artisans completed the liturgical furnishings, carvings, and gilding, while the Travertine elements were imported from our Italian craftsmen.
The new church will be dedicated on August 31st.
See the rest of the liturgical furnishings at Christ the King Catholic Church on our website.
