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The Story Behind the Windows

In late 1999, the Parish Council along with Father Victor and his staff discussed the possibility of Stained Glass windows in the Church. A presentation was made to the council in March 2000 by Debbie Patana of 'Inspirations Studios' in Chinook. Father chose the nine biblical images of Jesus' life from the Nativity to the Resurrection, donors were solicited and the project begun.

Debbie started with the largest window, a beautiful "Assumption of Mary into Heaven." This 19 piece window was contracted at a cost of $10,000. The nine windows in the main body of the church have beenn completed at a rate of one every 2-3 months for the last three years.

Debbie first drew a pattern for the window. She then selected and ordered the appropriate stained glass; some of which is made in the Northwest. The faces and hands are then cut out of flesh colored glass and sent to Andrea Weir, locally or Pauline Alwine in Longview. They painted the faces, detailed the hands, fired the glass to make it permanent and returned it to Debbie where the rest of the glass was cut to complete the picture. The pieces were ground to fit with each other and each piece was then wrapped with copper foil. Using a soldering gun at 800 degrees, the pieces were put together to complete the design. Notice the "Bringing in the nets" window, located near the Confessional which was particularly laborious. The net was hand woven using copper wire and the fish are brass coated with lead solder, then patinaed with a pewter finish.

The dedication panel starts with green glashed glass over clear glass and is sand blasted with the donors' information by Karen Suprunowski of Nahcotta, WA.

These completed pieces were then picked up by DK Window Works in Warrenton, OR, shipped to Portland where they were put between window panes, then returned to Warrenton where it was placed into a window unit and installed in St. Mary's church.

The six smaller non-opening windows in the front of the church, and one in the sacristy, were done by Mona Nolden of Longview. Donor plackets are being installed under these windows.

St. Mary's Parish members appreciate Debbie, Mona, Pauline, Andrea and Karen for their 'labor of love' which will be on display for our community to enjoy for many years to come.

Special thanks to Mike & Janet King who were coordinators and liasons between the factions, keeping the project moving.