Places of Grace and Beauty: Reflections on Erie's Christian Places of Worship
Places of Grace and Beauty: Reflections on Erie's Christian Places of Worship
This lavishly illustrated presentation will offer participants a variety of tools for better appreciating the rich heritage of Christian church architecture in the city of Erie. The presentation will identify the "Five Ps of Church Architecture" (personality, piety, polity, poetry, and property.) as Dr. DeSanctis finds them operating in the design, construction, and use of Erie's church buildings. Though local groups of Christians certainly embrace the beauty and intelligibility of this world, special attention with be devoted to explaining the means by which they lend architectural expression to their shared belief in a supernatural realm surpassing this one. Time at the presentation's conclusion will be directed to participants' questions and comments.
Location: Jefferson Educational Society - 3207 State Street, Erie, PA 16508
Date/Time: Monday, April 24 at 7:00 p.m.
Admission: FREE
Parking: lot behind building, State Street, 33rd Street, 32nd Street, French Street
Michael E. DeSanctis, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus of Fine Arts and Theology at Gannon University, Erie, PA, a Catholic, diocesan institution. He is a four-time recipient of the Student Government Association “Excellence in Teaching” award and has been honored with the Bishop Donald W. Trautman “Feed My Sheep” award for his commitment to the University’s Catholic mission. Dr. DeSanctis is a member of the Commission on Sacred Art and Architecture for Diocese of Erie and has established an international reputation for his work as a liturgical educator, designer and consultant. In recent years, Dr. DeSanctis’ “avocation” as a designer-fabricator of original, three-dimensional depictions of the Nativity has gained him wide recognition. His projects were featured in the September 2016 and Summer 2020 issues of the newsletter of “Friends of the Crèche,” the national organization committed to preserving the art and history of crèche-building, of which he is a board member. He and his physician-wife, Kelli, are members of St. Jude the Apostle Church, Erie, PA, where they head up the OCIA/Adult Education initiative.
