HISTORY 

In the early days, Archbishop Joseph Francis Rummel and landowner Earnest B. Norman Sr. shaped the formation of ST. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Lower Algiers. Officially established in 1951, with Rev Morris N. Dummet is the first pastor, St Andrew's began to hold mass in private homes. The first church facilities were designed by the Norman family to serve as both religious spaces and potential residential units, showcasing their community-oriented generosity. After St. Andrew the Apostle established their school in 1953, an official church building was erected and dedicated to mass for this largely growing parish. Sainte-Chapelle Studios further beautified the interior of this church, using deep symbolism to enrich the space.

​

OUR WORK​

Sainte-Chapelle Studios designed liturgical art in Ecclesial Latin that fit within the existing context of the church design and patrimony. “Invenimus Messiam”, or “We have found the Messiah” are the first words spoken by St. Andrew in the Gospels. He, before any of the 12 apostles, identifies Jesus as the promised messiah- the one for whom the world had longed. In this 23 karat gold stenciling, the shield of St. Andrew is directly to the left of his own words, under which the martyr’s palms are laid in the form of an “X”, indicating the manner of his crucifixion. It was Andrew who first called his brother, St. Peter, to come and see the Messiah. For this reason, the crossed keys of Peter are immediately opposite of St. Andrew’s Shield, emphasizing that it was St. Andrew who first brought his brother St. Peter to Christ. The crossed palms are under St. Peter’s keys, indicating that it was St. Andrew’s confession of faith that allowed for the glorious martyrdom of St. Peter. Below, the phrase “Venite Adoremus”, or “Come let us adore Him” is the response to St. Andrew’s identification of Jesus. In this image, we see St. Peter’s Keys shown first, indicating that St. Andrew followed St. Peter after Christ called Peter as the first Pope. The Vines surrounding the text are indicative of the fruitful vine, Christ Jesus, from which Peter and Andrew grew.

Sainte-Chapelle studios then oversaw the construction of the liturgical art, and with in-house engineering and planning, completed the artistic scope in less than a week.