Restoring sacred beauty at St. Mary of the Assumption
Sean McClendon, with Conrad Schmitt Studios, uses stencils to paint the ceiling of St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Fort Worth on July 25, 2024, as Father John Perikomalayil, pastor, looks on. The church is currently undergoing a restoration project of its sanctuary and nave. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)
FORT WORTH — Although St. Mary of the Assumption’s parish dates to 1909, the church’s current building debuted in 1924.
The priest and parishioners of St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Fort Worth hope renovations will enhance the spiritual and aesthetic experiences at their parishes.
A century of blessings
“These current renovations represent a celebration and culmination of all the blessings we’ve received over the past 100 years — not of our parish community, but of this particular church building,” Father John Perikomalayil, HGN, of St. Mary said.
For now, floor-to-ceiling scaffolding and taped off sections of cardboard and plastic sheeting fill the historic church’s interior. The bulk of the renovations entail painting and plaster work. The project also engendered reacquaintance between St. Mary and Wisconsin restoration company Conrad Schmitt Studios.
“The church was painted in the 1940s with a special mural and now that same company is back here again,” Fr. Perikomalayil said.
Founded by Conrad Schmitt in 1889, the company specializes in painting, plaster restoration and decorative stained-glass design for restoration of historic churches, theaters, and government buildings.
“We’re not the biggest, but we’re one of the oldest,” Conrad Schmitt Project Coordinator Emily Litjens said before explaining the challenges older structures present. “With older buildings like this, you really have to research the background and, if there’s any damage, have to assess the whole building.”
Repairs figured into St. Mary’s renovations.
“There was water damage that had to be repaired with plaster in the traditional way because it’s an older building,” Litjens said. “We had to address those things before painting began. Basically, before you frost the cake, you have to make sure that the cake, the building, is going to hold up.”
Historic renovations require months of research and planning before work begins, Litjens added.
Michael Crimaldi, who specializes in ornamental plaster and restoration, spoke of his love of restoring older buildings for the past 29 years.
“The plaster and paint work we’re doing should last another 50, 60 years and this parish has already been here 100 years,” Crimaldi said. “That’s pretty cool to play a part in leaving something like that behind. I’m 49 so these renovations will likely last longer than I will. Or, if I’m still around for the next round of renovations, I’m pretty sure I won’t be climbing these stairs and ladders again.”
Picture this
Canvas medallions previously dotting the ceiling have been removed. Blue paint will replace the ceiling’s former tan hue matching painted blue backgrounds in other parts of the church.
The color change will brighten things up, Fr. Perikomalayil said. Paint containing gold flakes will further highlight the halo above the mural of Mary in the sanctuary as well as lettering along sanctuary borders.
Replacing the ceiling medallions will be murals depicting the sorrowful and luminous mysteries of the Rosary.
“If you notice, the stained-glass windows of the church already include the joyful mysteries on the east side and the glorious mysteries on the west,” Fr. Perikomalayil said. “So, we’re adding the other two mysteries onto the ceiling. Now, if a parent comes in, they can explain to their children about the Rosary and show them the four mysteries depicted in our church and how those all connect to the life of Jesus.”
A skylight high above the sanctuary installed years ago served little purpose given that it was covered and allowed no light in, Fr. Perikomalayil said.
That skylight, recently removed and covered over, will soon be replaced with a mural of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, replacing a similar mural that occupied the same location in the church decades ago.
Being added to that are murals depicting God and the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the choir loft.
“So we’ll have the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit — the Trinitarian God — represented in our parish,” Fr. Perikomalayil said.
Restoration of flooring in choir loft, sanctuary, and other upgrades are planned as well.
“What we are doing is restoring the sacred beauty of our church,” Fr. Perikomalayil said. “I think once these projects are complete, this will turn out to be one of the most attractive parishes in our diocese.”
Mass for now is celebrated in the former cafeteria of the now closed school adjacent to St. Mary. Fr. Perikomalayil said he looks forward to Bishop Michael Olson celebrating the first Mass once the church reopens and the looks on parishioner’s faces once they enter and encounter the new murals and other upgrades for the first time.
Litjens spoke of the historical importance of renovation efforts.
“Older buildings like this were built solid and built to last,” Litjens said. “But they still need upkeep, maintenance, and freshening up now and then. So it means a lot to me to contribute toward the life of a building like this that could last hundreds of years.”
Fr. Perikomalayil expressed appreciation for the historic preservation aspects, but said it’s more than that.
“Because in this instance, when you walk through the doors, you are not just entering into a space,” Fr. Perikomalayil said. “You are entering into the presence of the Lord. So, through these upgrades and additions, the hope is that the realization and sensation will now be enhanced with a feeling of awe when people enter that they are coming into a special and sacred place and that they’re truly in the presence of the Lord.”