NEW PICTURESChristmas PicturesChurch of Saint Mary - The Immaculate Conception, Derby, Connecticut Saint Francis Xavier, New York, New York Sacred Heart, Mount Holly, New Jersey Saint Bernard, New York, NY ON-LINE HISTORY EXHIBITThe Burning of St. Joseph's Cathedral, HartfordScenes from the fire that destroyed this majestic Keely-designed cathedral 50 years ago on New Year's Eve, 1956 RECENT AND UPCOMING EVENTSChristmas Tour of Keely Churchesand Cathedral Christmas Carol Sing December 2008 (date and time to be announced) Cathedral of the Holy Cross Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts The annual Christmas Tour of Keely Churches and Cathedral Christmas Carol Sing will take place this December at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. Participants may gather inside the main entrance on Washington St., previously to 4 p.m. The Life Size Nativity will be to your left. The walking tour will set out for Patrick Keely's Holy Trinity German Catholic Church, "The Christmas Church," where visitors will be awed by the sights and sounds of this historic South End Church with its special traditions. The massive, soaring Gothic arch encompassing the sanctuary will be lighted with hundreds of bulbs, and the altar will be bedecked in Christmas decorations. This German parish was the first to use Christmas decorations when staid Boston frowned on any outward celebration of Christmas. Visitors will be greeted by the German Choir singing unique choral pieces, and Christmas hymns played on the historic organ. Peter Cooper, church historian, will give a discription of some of the notable German features and treasures in the edifice. Ted Furey, President of the Keely Society, will provide information on the architectural aspects of the gothic structure. Life size statues of the Twelve Apostles, carved from tree trunks by German artists, line the upper walls of the side aisles. Leaving Holy Trinity, participants will then visit St. James the Greater on Harrison Ave. at 5:10 p.m. Fr. Koop, newly appointed administrator, will be our gracious host. St. James is the second structure designed by Patrick C. Keely for this parish. The original Albany St. structure, in the gothic style, was sold to the Boston & Main Railroad for transportation expansion. It was replaced by a brick and limestone trim structure in the Romanesque style with facade tile design by the famous Minton factory of England. A figure of Christ and two saints occupy niches in the facade also. The interior boasts massive granite pillars and a blind celerestory, where in former Christmas celebrations, altar boys stood in each opening with a lighted candle to herald the start of Christmas Eve Mass. This church also can boast of life size Apostles of Christ, lining the side aisle walls. Monochrome in color they lend their impressive presence to this massive Boston church. Returning to the Cathedral of the Holy Cross around 6 p.m., the massive Hook & Hastings, Opus 801, 1875 organ will burst forth in music with the master's touch of the cathedral Music Director, Leo Abbott. With the Cathedral in subdued light, and the Main Altar and sanctuary ablaze in lighted candelabra with adoring angels and Christmas decorations, carolers will be given Christmas Carol booklets with which to easily read the words of the verses of each carol sung. As is the tradition at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, the last carol of the music period will be Silent Night. Each participant will be given a lighted candle to hold during the singing of this treasured German Christmas Carol. The Cathedral boasts four nativity sets during the christmas Season with the largest being the life size nativity in the North Tower entrance. The main sanctuary set features 40" figures handcrafted in Spain. The Chapel of the Blessed sacrament Nativity is a re-creation of an 1890s Mayer of Munich set with 24" figures. The Basement Chapel of the Cathedral has a Nativity set with 40" figures in the style of the 1900s French tradition. Refreshments will be served in the lower Cathedral Social Room after the event. For more information, contact keelysociety@yahoo.com PAST EVENTSJune 2007"Keely Congress VII" Cathedral of the Holy Cross Boston, Massachusetts Fr. John J. Connolly, Rector Internationally recognized Eccesiastical firms with presentations on Decorative Arts and Stained Glass New Jersey - New York Keely Bus Tour January 2006 Cathedral of the Holy Cross The Cathedral Nativity Erected & sponsored by the Keely Society Friday, December 30, 2005, 4:00 pm Christmas Tour of Keely Churches & Christmas Carol Sing The annual "Christmas Tour of Keely Churches" began at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Washington Ave. in the South End of Boston. The first stop of the walking tour was at the gothic style "Christmas Church" of Holy Trinity Parish on Shamut Ave. The romanesque edifice of St. James the Greater Church, on Harrison Avenue in the Chinatown section, was next, featuring its great, granite pillars supporting a grand vaulted ceiling. Our final destination was the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, where, amid the glow of Christmas lights, angels and candelabra, a Christmas carol Sing took place. Holiday refreshments were served in the Lower Cathedral Social Room. Boston's wintry chill and blustery winds didn't stop fifty brave architectual bluffs from the Christmas tour of Keely Churches and Christmas Carol Sing at the Cathedral. Each structure was aglow in its Christmas finest. Holy Trinity's sanctuary lights that line the complete gothic arch from floor to apex and down the opposite side were lighted with hundreds of white bulbs. At St. James' Church, Father Hugh O'Regan spoke about the unusual features of this large romanesque structure. Wafting incense greeted the travelers at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross with low lighting, a myriad of flickering candles, and the swelling music of the historic 1875 Hook & Hastings Organ adding to the aura of this magnificent Keely edifice. Participants sang along with each Carol, and each held a lighted candle during the singing of "Silent Night." More information, contact - keelysociety@yahoo.com |
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Available - $10 plus $3 Postage etc. Contact: keelysociety@yahoo.com Spanish Statuary The Keely Society has been asked to supply various, high quality religious statuary to enhance religious settings. The finest figures available today are produced in Spain. They are hand finished and indivudually distinct. These are not the stock Spanish pieces, but ones whose form and execution reflect the highest quality of the late 19th century. A group of Spanish artisans started their work in 1880 and a select group carries on this rich tradition. The figures are finely created in "Pasta Madera", a wood paste. Here are only a few of their creations.
Pictures and descriptions to come soon!!! |