p.1 #1 · Basilica of St Adalbert - Grand Rapids, MI
Earlier this week, I visited Grand Rapids, Michigan.
After being turned away from the nearby Cathedral of St Andrew (in a highly unsual manner--more on that later), I wasn't expecting much from my attempt to photograph the basilica. The basilica was open, but the church was dark. I was about to leave, but decided to walk over to the parish office to ask if it would be possible to have the church lit up for photography.
I rang the bell outside the office and was promptly buzzed in. A woman welcomed me to the basilica and told me she would be happy to turn on the lights and allow me to photograph the interior (so long as the photos were for personal use). This made for an enjoyable photography session.
1- It's a miracle!
During my last night in Grand Rapids, I planned a blue hour photo shoot of the basilica. One of the residents in the neighborhood told me that it sometimes gets lit from the inside...and that the rose window would then be illuminated. There was no guarantee that the church would be lit up at all. As I was preparing to leave the hotel to drive to the basilica, the forecasted rain started to fall. It poured during most of my 6 mile drive to the church. The neighborhood around the basilica somehow remained dry while it stormed nearby!
I was pleased to see that the church was in fact lit. I captured this photo and then quickly put my gear away. As soon as I got into the car, the rain pounded down so hard that it was treacherous driving back to the hotel. I could hardly see and there was standing water everywhere.
2- I had the church to myself for more than an hour.
3- This stained glass window depicts Jesus Knocking at the Door (often called The Light of the World), inspired by Revelation 3:20: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." Below the window on the wall are two mosaic plaques depicting scenes from the Passion of Christ (Station VI on the left and Station V on the right).
4- This circular stained-glass ceiling oculus depicts the Assumption of Mary.
5- Pulpit detail (aggressively cropped due to surrounding clutter)
6- Transom window above door
7- This stained glass window depicts Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd, based on the Gospel of John.
8- Inner dome
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10- Photo taken during my scouting trip the day before the blue hour picture was captured.
