As with almost all things “Catholic”, the different parts of a church are known by a Latin or perhaps Greek based nomenclature.  The vestibule area is called the “Narthex”.  The main church can be divided into different functional areas based on the cruciform or cross shaped floor plan.  The “Nave”, the longer lower leg of the cross, contains the main space for the assembly of the faithful and is filled with rows of pews.  The “Transept”, which is composed of the two short arms of the cross, has space for special seating and more room for parishioners.  The “Sanctuary”, the upper part of the cross, contains the altar and is used for celebrating the Mass and other services.  The area where the nave, transept and sanctuary meet is often called the “Crossing”.  The area of the sanctuary is sometimes referred to as the “Apse.”  There is also the “Sacristy”, the area used by the priest and lay staff to prepare for Mass and services.  These general design principles are present in just about every Catholic church throughout the world.  Holding to universal design principles serves to instill unity and the comfort of familiarity while leaving great leeway in individual parish expression.

 

As we step from the vestibule or narthex into the church proper, we find ourselves in the Nave.  An overview of the church presents us with a clean and crisp view of banks of oak pews on either side of a central aisle.  The ceiling is supported by large white columns rising from the tiled floor.  A little known fact about St. Patrick’s is the radiant floor heating system.  Using the entire church floor as a radiator provides excellent comfort in a very ecological manner. 

The walls of the church are cut with beautiful stained glass windows.  Further down, the nave flares out as the exterior walls follow the form of the octagon which is centered around the crossing of the long axis of the nave and the short axis of the transept At the ends of the transept, (the short arms of the cruciform floor plan) are the side entrances to the church.  The east side entrance faces the school and displays various church memorial plaques.  The west side entrance faces the rectory parking lot and has two small stained glass windows of Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Francis of Assisi .  The left transept has room for some more pews, but more importantly provides space for our Choir and other musical celebrants.  St. Patrick’s rightfully takes great pride in its Choir and their banner is proudly displayed on the front wall of the left transept.  Between the Sanctuary and Choir is the church organ.  The right transept contains more pews for parishioners.  Some of these may be reserved for persons who are assisting with the Mass, other ministers and for visiting dignitaries.  On a typical Sunday, we will see the altar servers seated in this area.  At the “Crossing” where the nave, transepts and sanctuary meet, the ceiling opens up to a raised hipped ceiling recalling the great domed churches.  The raised height of the ceiling over the sanctuary provides for an uplifting tableau drawing our eyes from the slightly raised altar and tabernacle to the architecturally framed crucifix which is then topped by a round stained glass window depicting the opened tomb of the risen Christ.
 

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