STATIONS OF THE CROSS

The Building Committee recently asked the expert Gianfranco Pocobene, who did a wonderful job restoring the painting over the Brown Street exit, to investigate and prepare a report regarding the conditions of the Stations of the Cross. Mr. Pocobene is from the Straus Center for Conservation, Harvard University Art Museums

The report reflected the damage and decay to all Stations, with some in very serious condition. This required a restoration effort.

Gianfranco Pocobene told us in his report that the Stations date from the nineteenth century. They were produced by a reproduction technique using an oil type print that was printed into a brass metal support. While a number of churches might have had these produced for them, these are probably some of the few examples of this type in existence. Furthermore, the technology that produced the images died out some time ago. The expert opinion was that the Stations are unique, historic objects that were created as an integral part of the church decoration. To quote Mr. Pocobene, "As they are irreplaceable, every effort should be made to preserve them for the history of the Church and its congregation."