Our New Church
- A Place to Encounter the Sacred -

The new parish church at Most Holy Redeemer was dedicated on October 14, 2001. The fruit of years of dreaming, planning and hard work, the church provides a place for people to encounter God in the sacred. Built to provide for the future growth of Jacksonville’s Westside, it envisions of the liturgical reforms of Vatican II while embodying the principle of “noble simplicity” of the Roman Rite. Our architect was Rick Swisher of Winter Park, Fl.

Upon entering the church, one is immediately confronted with the sacramental waters of Baptism. The immersion font is also a passage font. One is fully immersed into the life of God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – and passes into new life. As it bridges the gathering area and the worship space itself, a person entering the church moves from the midst of the church into the paschal mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection. The paschal candle stands near the font outside of the Easter season – a reminder that through Baptism one is enlightened into the life of Christ who is the light of the world. The ambry to the right of the font contains the holy oils used in the Church’s sacramental celebrations – the Sacred Chrism, the Oil of the Catechumenate and the Oil of the Sick.

Moving towards the main sanctuary, the altar stands as the focal point of the community’s regular gathering to worship the Lord. As the altar of sacrifice, it signifies Christ and the sacrifice of his life on the cross for the redemption of the world. It is also the holy table of the Lord from which Christ’s disciples are nourished with the sacrament of the Eucharist.

The ambo is located to the left of the altar. From there the community of faith is nourished with the Word of God. Finally, from the presidential chair, the priest leads the people of God in Persona Christ – “in the person of Christ.” The altar, ambo and presider’s chair are the three most important symbols in the church for the worship of God.

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