Stained Glasses

The art of stained glass has long been one of the Church’s most radiant expressions of faith. In the Middle Ages, when many of the faithful could not read or write, the play of light through colored glass became a silent teacher. Each window, alive with sacred imagery, told the stories of Scripture and revealed the mysteries of salvation — thus earning its name as the “poor man’s Bible.”

Through the centuries, these luminous works of art have continued to adorn the walls of cathedrals and churches, turning sunlight into symbols of divine grace. They do not merely decorate; they proclaim — casting upon the faithful both light and lesson, beauty and belief.

In the same timeless tradition, the stained glass windows of Mary, Mother of Good Counsel Parish bathe the sanctuary in color and reverence. Each image reflects the story of our faith and the gentle wisdom of our Patroness, who guides her children ever closer to her Son, the Light of the World.

Above the main portal of the church shines the pictorial window of our beloved patroness, Mary, Mother of Good Counsel. Patterned after the painting of the Franciscan friar Pasquale Sarullo (1828–1893), the image captures the Blessed Mother in a tender embrace with her Son. Their gaze reflects an intimate communication of hearts — a serene and habitual joy born of pure love.

This is not a fleeting ecstasy, but the quiet radiance of a mother’s love at its most expressive. Mary’s tenderness seems to blossom as she draws the Child Jesus close, and He, unafraid and content, clings to her as though nothing else in the world exists but her. In this sacred exchange, He is wholly hers, as she is wholly His — a moment of perfect communion and peace. The light passing through this window invites us, too, to enter into such intimacy with the Blessed Mother, who gently leads every heart to her Son.

At the heart of the sanctuary, the central stained-glass window draws the faithful to Golgotha, the hill of our salvation. Rich in color and emotion, it portrays the solemn moment of the Crucifixion. The Sindonic Cross stands at the center — the sign of divine love — surrounded by those who remained faithful to the end.

To the left of the Cross stands the Blessed Mother, her hands crossed over her chest in reverent sorrow. Beside her is the Roman centurion Longinus, who pierced the side of Jesus and came to faith through the blood and water that flowed forth. On the other side stands St. John, the beloved disciple, steadfast in his devotion, while Mary Magdalene kneels in anguish, her face veiled in grief yet radiant in love.

The deep, vibrant hues of the window illuminate the drama of Calvary — sorrow and glory intertwined. Through this sacred light, the mystery of the Cross is made present again, inviting every beholder to contemplate the boundless compassion of Christ and the steadfast love of those who stood with Him until the end.

At the heart of the church, set amidst the central ceiling fan, a geometric-designed stained glass radiates quiet splendor. Its hues of blue and white, the traditional colors of Mary, gently bathe the assembly below in light that speaks of her presence and grace.

In the Old Testament, blue adorned the tassels of the Israelites’ garments as a reminder to walk in God’s ways (Numbers 15:38–39) — a command the Blessed Mother fulfilled with perfect fidelity. A blue cloth also covered the Ark of the Covenant (Numbers 4:6–7), a fitting image of Mary herself, the Ark of the New Covenant, who bore within her the living Word of God. Blue, the color of the heavens, evokes peace and depth; it mirrors the soul’s longing for the infinite, for God Himself.

White, pure and luminous, signifies joy and holiness — the radiance of the soul in grace. In the sacred liturgy, it marks the celebration of divine glory, lifting the heart beyond what is earthly toward the eternal.

Together, blue and white form a celestial harmony — the colors of contemplation and purity, desire and fulfillment. They draw the gaze upward, teaching the soul to yearn for intimacy with the Divine, as Mary did in her life of perfect surrender.

These windows of light do more than adorn our church; they illuminate it — literally and spiritually. Through them, the light of God enters not only the walls of this sacred space, but also the hearts of the faithful gathered within, kindling in them the same radiance that shone in the heart of the Blessed Mother.