Florida Catholic | Missions :: St. Martha Parish Remodel

Polished and sounding good

Just in time for St. Martha - Yamaha Concert Series, church renovations maintain superb acoustics and enhance the spiritual.

YÉDICA LEAL | SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA CATHOLIC

Published: 11.02.07

Archbishop John C. Favalora consecrates the new altar at St. Martha Parish by rubbing the top with Sacred Chrism as Father Federico Capdepón, Bishop Justo Laguna from Argentina, Deacon Antonio Maceo of St. Martha; and Msgr. Michael Souckar join the archbishop in prayer.
ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC

MIAMI SHORES | St. Martha Parish in Miami Shores marked the 25th anniversary of the dedication of its church building with extensive renovations, including the installation of a new altar, which was rededicated by Archbishop John C. Favalora at the end of September.

Before embarking on the $350,000 worth of renovations, experts were consulted to ensure that the changes would not interfere with the acoustic qualities that have allowed the church to host world-renowned classical musicians as part of its St. Martha-Yamaha Concert Series.

St. Martha’s pastor, Father Federico Capdepón, said the remodeling was strictly cosmetic and intended “to create a more inviting atmosphere where the presence of God would be more palpable.“

Among the modifications:

• Brescia marble from Italy has been added to the walls behind the altar. The sanctuary floor is now made of Italian marble with a fringe of red Marvel from Alicante, Spain. The stained-glass window at the rear of the altar, which features an image of the resurrected Christ, is now framed in wood.

• The altar table and ambo are made of carved cherry wood. The front of the altar features a 17th-century Zurberan painting of a sacrificial lamb.

• A new baptismal font, created from a block of Apalache marble, is situated to the right of the altar, as is an art deco bronze statue of the Virgin Mary.

• A new tabernacle has been placed behind the main altar. It was created especially for St. Martha by the Granada Workshops in Spain. A Byzantine-style image of Christ adorns the door of the tabernacle, and tridimensional images of the Twelve Apostles are carved all around.

Leal writes for La Voz Católica, the Spanish-language monthly newspaper of the Archdiocese of Miami.

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Polished and sounding good

Just in time for St. Martha - Yamaha Concert Series, church renovations maintain superb acoustics and enhance the spiritual.

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