The Meaning of the Parish Logo

 The St. Catherine of Siena Parish Logo

A logo should convey many things quickly and simply about the community it represents. Our logo does just that.
 
There are two aspects of our logo that are most dominant—the cross and the octagonal shape. The cross immediately states that we are a Christian community. We are all joined together through the cross of Christ, which cuts into all quarters of the logo, and into every aspect of our own lives. The rays extending from the cross show that we are an open, welcoming church, seeking to take Christ outward. We recognize the call of Christ in the Gospel of Matthew, to “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” The cross reaches to all four corners of the world. But we also recognize our own need for community, to be part of the Body of Christ in the people who gather to worship. The same rays that stretch outward also return inward, back to the cross, to the heart of Christ. The twelve rays reveal another aspect of our community, namely that we are a Catholic, apostolic church. The number twelve refers to the Old Testament, to the twelve tribes of Judah, and it also recalls the twelve apostles in the New Testament. Just as the apostles gathered around Christ, so we too, are called to do the same.
 
The cross also reminds us of our two-fold relationship with the Trinity. The vertical bar represents the relationship between ourselves and God, while the horizontal bar shows how we are called to live out that relationship in the world, by loving our neighbor. St. Catherine of Siena frequently wrote that since we cannot show Christ that we love him, we must show that love to our neighbors. To St. Catherine, Christ acts as a bridge to God. In order to cross that bridge, we must be willing to live a life of dying to self. The large cross in the center of the logo conveys this simply and humbly.
 
But if the cross represents our need to die to self, the second major aspect of this logo, the octagon, gives us the solution, new life. A quick walk around our campus reveals the octagonal shape in many places. It is the shape of our baptismal font, the shape of the lantern window over the altar, and the shape of our sanctuary. It is also the shape of the roof in the day chapel, as well as the lights suspended from the ceiling. Using the octagon in our logo symbolizes a personal, individual part of our church.
 
The octagon is a symbol for the number eight. Why is the number eight important? Because it represents new life and regeneration, a new creation that participates in eternity. Each of the octagons around the campus reflect this new life in various ways.
 
There are two octagons in the logo. The first is in the center of the cross, while the second is the shape of the background. The small octagon reminds us that we are called to mirror  Jesus, to be remade in his image as a new creation, through a personal relationship with him of growth and faith. The larger octagon reminds us that we participate in the larger community of believers. We look forward to the final gathering in of the Body of Christ when the “day that knows no evening” arrives.
 
The Baptismal Font
Draw near to the Baptismal font. Dipping your fingers in the water, make the sign of the cross, and pray the words below.
 
“Eternal Trinity! You are a peaceful sea in whom every soul is immersed who conforms their will to yours.
O Holy God! You are a peaceful sea
in which the soul feeds and is nourished.”
—from the Prayers of St. Catherine of Siena
 
A reading from the Gospel of Luke
“The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you. He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”
The Word of the Lord.
 
The Baptismal waters are the entrance into the family of God. We are the sisters and brothers of Jesus, the daughters and sons of God the Father. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that all who are baptized receive a certain seal which remains forever in the Christian. This mark assists us in responding to grace and following the Word of God.
 
Look up at the painted panels on the ceiling above the font, which represent the waters of baptism and the work of God during the second day of creation. Meditate on the water, asking God for guidance and wisdom as you ask the following questions:
 
What areas in my life are in need of cleansing?
Where does my will separate from the will of God?
As a member of the family of God, how can I respond to the Word of God?
 
The Main Sanctuary
Choose a place to sit in the main sanctuary. Notice that the shape of the space is a large octagon that wraps around the community of believers who gather at the table of the Lord. All those who participate in the Lamb’s Supper partake of the eternal, heavenly banquet.
 
A reading from the Gospel of John.
Jesus said to him, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
The Word of the Lord.
 
Notice how the cross of Jesus crucified hangs directly in between the altar and the windows above. The placement of the cross reflects that Jesus is our Mediator before his heavenly Father.  Jesus says he is “the Way, the Truth and the Life.” If we are to go to the Father as well, we also must follow in his footsteps and believe in his words. In this way, we, too, may gain eternal life.
 
Look up to the windows above the altar. This window is also in the shape of an octagon. It is situated in the ceiling, the “heavens” in architectural language. Through this octagon, the life of the Trinity descends upon the earth, directly through the person of Jesus who suffered and died for us. His sacrifice is re-presented on the altar beneath at every Mass.
 
Meditate on the divine workings represented here: the love of the Trinity descending to earth, being made human in the person of Christ. To return this love to the Father, Christ mounts his cross and offers his life back to his Father. We, his followers, join in this divine flow of love when we gather at the Liturgy. How blessed are we to take part!
 
Reflect for a moment:  How can I better participate in the Liturgy? Am I grateful for this act of love? Can I read the Sunday Scriptures beforehand? Arrive a few minutes early to pray?  Remain a few minutes after to thank God for his gift? Offer to help in the Liturgy?
 
The Day Chapel
The ceiling of our Day Chapel is one of the most striking and most beautiful parts of our campus. At the same time, it is one of the most overlooked aspects! This gives us food for thought—do we seek God in all parts of our lives? Do we look for him when he seems hidden? Do we raise our hearts and minds to him, and pray with the psalmist?
 
I lift up my eyes to the hills —
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121
 
The artwork depicted on the ceiling shows the universal, awesome power of God, who created the heavens and the earth. The universe also symbolizes that God is high above us. His ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. Yet, still, because of his great love for us he constantly pours forth himself into our lives, represented by the downward movement of the dove, the Holy Spirit.
 
The Adoration Chapel
As Catholics we believe that Jesus is truly with us today, as he promised, not just in spirit but also in flesh and blood. We call this the Real Presence of  Christ in the Eucharist. In the Adoration Chapel we have the opportunity to draw near to Jesus, to tell him of all that is going on in our lives and ask for wisdom and direction.
 
We also believe that we are able to intercede for each other, that God listens to our prayers for our brothers and sisters as a loving Father. The prayer below is a popular Catholic prayer to say before the Blessed Sacrament.
 
“My God, I believe, I adore, I trust and I love Thee!
I beg pardon for all those that do not believe, do not adore, do not trust and do not love Thee.”
—the Pardon Prayer from Fatima
 
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.
And You shall renew the face of the earth
 
 
 
Oh immense fire and affection of charity!
You have joined your divine nature with human nature,
By the new creation you have granted us,
in your image and likeness,
union with you!
—from the Prayers of St. Catherine of Siena
 
 
 
 
 
“Those who
love Christ
love their
neighbors
with the
same love.”
St. Catherine
of Siena
 
 
 
“The day of Christ’s resurrection is both the first day of the week, the memorial of the first day of creation, and the “eighth day” on which Christ after his “rest” on the great Sabbath inaugurates the “day that the Lord has made,” the “day that knows no evening.” 
—Catechism of the Catholic Church 1166