The vision of the pastor of adjacent St Vincent de Paul parish was to create a hub for perpetual Eucharistic adoration in the growing city of Fort Wayne. This new oratory replaces a parish church that once stood here in St. Vincent's Cemetery. Razed several years ago, the original Romanesque Revival church served as precedent for some of the new forms and details.
The oratory seats 90 people, offers a restroom for visitors and a small sacristy in its front curved oriels. Over the entry door is a mosaic of the Oratory's patroness designed by Gary Drostle from England. The tower contains a bell from the original St. Vincent de Paul church. Surrounding the apse are seven granite angels representing angels of the Seven Churches from the Book of Revelation. Below these angels are 117 burial niches where remains of the Christians surround the Eucharistic Presence in the Sanctuary.
Much of the interior design was inspired by the pastor and his resources including early designs by Thomas Gordon Smith (deceased). The 40 Bible of the Poor wood cuts that showcase the life of Christ and Old Testament forshadowings of Christ are incorporated into a custom wood wainscoting designed by Mr Heyer. We likewise designed a pinwheel tile pattern in the central aisle tile floor to fit 55 apple tiles (a portion of the 150 apples depicted throughout the Oratory). More descriptions of the art and symbolism, including painted passages of the Song of Songs that line the oratory, are available on the Oratory website.
Mosaics by Drostle Studios, England
Woodworking by Te Deum of Laotta, Indiana
Stonework by Andrew Wilson Smith
General Contractor: Schenkel Construction
