PARTY TIME!!! In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s the Project’s birthday. Exactly one year ago today I made my visit to Our Lady of Hope—a seemingly innocuous trip that ended up changing my life forever. (And, I suspect, yours as well.)
What better way to celebrate this momentous occasion by cueing up one of our old favorites…
Church Alley: Ta-Da! The Project returns to Church Alley. This time we tackle the second of this three-piece puzzle, Our Lady Help of Christians. You may remember from my initial discussions of Church Alley that OLHC was designated as a German national parish. That, however, is really no longer the case. OLHC is a victim of an ever-changing populace….
Church Project Theorem #19: It’s All Greek To Me!
This theorem describes the unusual plight of parishes that were founded to cater specifically to one ethnic group…only to see that group disappear over time. It’s All Greek To Me! is unique because it means that a parish’s original designation and original mission no longer make sense—i.e., an Italian parish that is now in a neighborhood with no Italians. Sometimes these parishes lose their designations as national parishes, or sometimes they just close up shop.
Sometimes, though, they maintain their designation despite now having nothing to do with the founding ethnic group. That’s the case with the German OLHC. I’m sure there are probably people of German descent in and around Port Richmond, but this parish no longer offers any masses or services in that language. It’s pretty well Americanized, and the only clues to its past are the German stations of the cross.
Semantics aside, OLHC is a very lovely parish. It’s not particularly big, but it’s decked out in a white, black and tan gingerbread exterior that is quite possibly the prettiest we have seen. Inside, we get a pastel-flavored Gothic experience, with mulicolored ribbed vaults and pointed arches. The décor is further fleshed out with colored statues and an elaborate wood-carved balcony. Oh, and true to Gothic design, OLHC has huge and beautiful stained glass windows.
The smaller size lessens the impact, and the design hampered by the questionable addition of blue wall-to-wall carpet on the floor, but all in all this is really nice. It’s not quite as stunning as its Church Alley neighbor St. Adalbert, but it’s nice nonetheless. Think St. Laurentius, only with a better exterior.
Size Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Ornamentation Rating: 9 out of 10
Overall Design Rating: 8.5 out of 10 crosses
