Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-15
ceremony TOMARK
PLACING OF STONE.
Archbishop CurIey viii Pre-
side at ST. GabrieI's
Event Tomorrow.

The cornerstone OF the new st. Ca
briefs Catholic Church, facing on Grant
Circle in Petworth, will be laid with
special ceremonies tomorrow at 4
O'Clock, at which Archbishop Michael
Curley will preside.
Right Rev. John NJ. Mcnamara,
Auxiliary Bishop Of Baltimore and
vicar general Of the archdiocese, is pas
tor of st. Gabriel's. With the laying OF
the cornerstone of the new church, he
will see his plans Of 10 years nearing
elimination.
Rev. Joseph ]. Michigan and Rev.
William j. Sweeney, assistant pastors,
have charge of arrangements.
Men Form Guard Of Honor.
The men of the parish will form a
double line as a guard OF honor from
the present church on webster street
to the site of the cornerstone laying,
through which the participating priests
and altar boys will march. Father
Ignatius Smith of the Dominican House
of Studies will preach the sermon. Sol
en1n pontifcal benediction OF the bless
ed sacrament will bring the ceremonies
to q close.
About a decade ago Cardinal Gibbons
commissioned the then Father Mona
mara, assistant pastor Of st: Patricks
Church, to establish parish at Pet
worth. one of the first things the new
pastor did was to obtain from the
knights of Columbus K. Of G. hut
which had been used in the World War
DAYS as a training cantonment near
washington. This hut became the f1rst
st. Gabrfel's Church.
This first st. Gabriel's Church, after
the building plans Of the new ST. Ga.
briels parochial group had been pushed
well forward. was turned over by
Buckley. who few years ago was COM
missioned by Archbishop Curley to es-
tablish the new parish Of st. Francis
Xaviers Church. The old K. Of Q. huS
which became st. Gabriel's Church Is
now st. Francis Xavier's Church.
SO rapidly did the Petworth parish
develop that combination school and
church, a convent and rectory were
completed some months ago, and now
the permanent church is under way.
The ground for the new edif1ce was
broken by Bishop Mcnamara Septem-
Der % last.
Tudor Gothic Design Followed.
In character the church will follow
the best traditions Of the Tudor Gothic
manner, to which the variegated col
oring Of the Port Deposit granite is so
we'll adapted.
The broken line of the facade. the
nice use of the double buttress and the
delicate grace of the fieche which will
rise from the crossing of transept and
nave win give to the ediflce a note Of
unusual distinction and charm.
The front elevation will be at once
commanding and deeply significant.
The carved stone figure Of Christ the
King" at the top: the fine. lace-like
tracery of the great east window; the
crucihxion group in full relief above
the doorway; the Magi at the crib, rep
resented in the tympanum, will all serve
20 arouse profoundly religious i'm
preston and to form In themselves
beautiful prayer in stone.
The church will have seating ca
pac4ty of more than 900 persons. It's
interior furnishings, including affairs,
windows and stations, will strike the
same high devotional and artistic note
as the exterior. The stained glass, to
be executed by Connick of Boston, will
represent all that is finest and best in
that highly specialized craft.
Lipscomb & Co. are the builders and
Maginnis e. Walsh of Boston the arcl1i-
tests. 1t is expected to be ready for
occupancy by December /.