Liturgical Furniture

Custom Altar (designed as a replica)- Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist: Savannah, Georgia

OVERVIEW

Rohn & Associates Design, Inc. is committed to an explicitly Catholic vision of what constitutes a liturgical environment. Our talented staff of designers and craftsmen will develop artistic interpretations, as well as models for both the proposed space and proposed furnishings to suit both individual aesthetical and functional requirements. Each step of the way, the staff, consultants and artists of Rohn & Associates Design, Inc. have infused their work and service to you with the letter and the spirit of the teaching of the Church which is summarized and presented by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in the 1999 document Built of Living Stones and the General Instruction of the Roman Missal.

Church design begins from the altar outward, with clear sightlines to enhance participation in the liturgy. Seating must be adequate for the parish and provide a sense of gathering around the altar and reserved Eucharist; there must also be proper chairs for the celebrant and deacons. Rohn Custom Studio is dedicated to designing and executing custom liturgical furniture to fit your sacred space, as well as restoring old furniture back to its original glory.

Saint Joseph Catholic Church: Macon, GA

LITURGICAL FURNISHINGS

Altar

The altar is the most holy object in the church, which is also the focus of the Mass. It deserves the greatest attention to design as it should be constructed with the finest materials possible and have a very elegant design. The altar should also be a permanent part of the church, which means it will have its own foundations, and receive its own separate consecration.

The altar is the table on which the priest commemorates and joins us to Christ’s sacrifice. It is a holy place on which the bread and wine are placed, that will then become Christ’s body and blood.

Ambo

The Ambo, a very significant piece that holds a strong theological importance, is usually positioned on the south side of the Sanctuary, and is where we read Scriptures from. The Ambo is the platform from where Jesus speaks, and should be respected closely to the way we respect the Altar. With that said, the Ambo should never be used for anything else. This is to show the importance of the Scriptures being spoken.

Baptismal Fonts

Baptism, or baptizein, means “to plunge.” When individuals are baptized, that are immersed into baptismal water. The baptismal font may also be referred to baptismal basins. They can be constructed in a variety of ways, though the octagonal shape is often considered to be the preferred shape. There are several points of symbolism around the number eight that explain why baptismal fonts are octagonal. The 8-sided baptismal font refers to the eighth day in Genesis, the day of eternity. Additionally, Jesus’ resurrection occurred on the “eighth” day — the day after the Sabbath, which is the seventh day of the week. It was also written that after the flood in Noah’s ark, eight people were saved by water and went on to bring about new life. Baptism symbolizes the beginning of a new life for the person experiencing it.

Liturgical Appointments

Tabernacles, crucifix and stations of the cross.

Custom White Carrara Marble Altar (above) and matching Baptismal Font (below) Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist: Savannah, Georgia

CASE STUDY: Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church

Visalia, California

Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Visalia, California has now been named “The largest catholic parish church in the United States.” The dedication of the church took place in February of 2023, following almost 390 renderings and a 3D model of a retablo- in just under ten years of planning. The challenge was to define the goals of the four different church groups that would be consolidated into one parish, with collective imagery that is meaningful to all. Artists, supervised by Rolf, worked with Father Alex Chávez, pastor; Monsignor Patrick McCormick; and the building committee over several months, tweaking the hand-drawn images numerous times just to get them right. After, this new sacred space now combines Mission-style simplicity with Renaissance art to which each parish can connect.

Rolf and his team also designed all of the furniture to complement the interior and artwork, including the altar, ambo, tabernacle, tabernacle throne, and baptismal font. Italians stone artisans crafted the latter while the rest of the furniture was carved in Mexico with local Cantera stone. The altar, with a reliquary situated beneath it, also has five crosses to represent Christ’s sacrifice. The altar’s four pillars feature the three apostles to first offer mass and who were present at the Last Supper.

Artistic Rendering of custom altar design

CASE STUDY: continued...

Heaven meets earth in the tabernacle, or the Lamb of God. From the Ambo—marked with the Chi Ro symbol (Christ and the Incarnate Word), Greek Alpha and Omega letters (the beginning and the end), and two angels (God’s messengers with trumpets)—the Word of God is declared. The baptismal font echoes the cruciform shape of the church. The upper basin contains five gold crosses symbolizing the wounds of Christ and the grace he obtained for us. The lower basin depicts the Holy Spirit, who descends in Baptism from God to dwell in our hearts.

© Rohn & Associates Design, 2023. All Rights Reserved.

CASE STUDY: Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church Visalia, California

Custom Baptismal Font with mosaic bottom- Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church: Visalia, California

Custom Altar (above) and complimenting Ambo (below) Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Visalia CA

CASE STUDY: Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church Visalia, California

© Rohn & Associates Design, 2023. All Rights Reserved.

CASE STUDY: Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Houston, Texas

The award-winning Houston Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart is simply a breathtaking contemporary Romanesque Cathedral for 21st century worship. It is a beautiful space that embraces Catholic tradition that permeates a reverence for God. Now complete, this extraordinary place of worship serves as the perfect sacred environment for the Cardinal to celebrate all the major masses, including ordinations, the Chrism Mass, Christmas and Easter vigils, as well as daily Mass. It also provides a wonderful respite from the busy city and serves as an outstanding addition to the city of Houston.

Liturgical furniture, altar, ambo, tabernacle base, and details are fabricated from Ethiopian Rosa Diaspora marble, which took over six months to quarry. The marble was then transported by boat to Italy, where each piece was meticulously fabricated. Upon completion, they made the journey to their new home in Houston, Texas, for installation. The Cathedra Chair and other furniture are constructed of superior Northern Oak with bronze accents.

Custom Baptismal font- Co-Cathderal of the Sacred Heart: Houston, TX

CASE STUDY: Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart

Houston, Texas

Custom Altar with suspended custom crucifix- Co-Cathderal of the Sacred Heart: Houston, TX

Custom tabernacle throne- Co-Cathderal of the Sacred Heart: Houston, TX