Restored Altar from Sisters of Christian Charity

In April of 2018, the Sisters of Christian Charity closed Holy Family Convent in Danville and moved back to the Mother House in Mendham , NJ . The Sisters asked Fr. Hoke, if we would be interested in any statues on the property for our Church or Church grounds. The Sisters sold Holy Family Convent and grounds to Geisinger for use as office space and parking, and any thing left on the grounds would be destroyed in the construction.

The altar in the photos graced an old small cemetery chapel designed to give proper respect for the deceased sisters the night before their burial on the grounds of the Convent. The Chapel in its day must have been beautiful. The walls were all ornately painted reflecting 1800 European religious art. The frames of what at one time housed exquisite stain glass windows were now just empty frames. The older sisters still remember using the chapel during funeral times and spending hours in vigil the night before the burial.

One of our artistic parishioner’s, Doug Bertanzetti was asked to restore the altar to its original splendor. The altar depicts Jesus suffering, His Agony in the Garden. While the disciples slept, Jesus prayed, an Angel appears to him, holding a cup. Jesus accepting The Father’s will of, suffering the Agony, the Passion, and the Surrender of His life for our salvation.

The altar is now restored and at the Parish Center , and will be used by the parish for the first time at the end of the Holy Thursday Service for Adoration. Recalling how Jesus went out to the Mount of Olives to prayer before His arrest. He asked His disciples to spend an hour with Him in prayer that they would have the courage to remain faithful to Him. Adoration will be held on Holy Thursday from 8:00-11:00 P.M., after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.

Before picture of base of Altar

Before picture of Angel giving Jesus a cup

After picture of restored Altar

Saint Joseph Church

Milton, PA

Restored Altar from Sisters of Christian Charity