On Sunday, 29 January 1989, 80 people gathered to dedicate the new Chapel of the Snows, which is the third chapel to be raised at McMurdo station. It is located just 840 miles from the South Pole. The Chapel of the Snows is the world's southernmost building erected primarily for religious services. It also is the only known house of worship in Antarctica.
Notice the achors on either side of the entrance.
STOP!!!! Before you read any farther or look at any pictures STOP!!!! Draw, paint or doodle a design for a stained glass window in the Chapel of the Snows in McMurdo Station, Antarctica.
What symbols would you use in the window?
What colors would you use?
Remember ½ the year the sun never sets and the other ½ of the year the sun never shines. Does that cause create any issues for your window? We can't light it using electricity because we must conserve as much as we can.
There is a program through the National Science Foundation (NSF) that brings artisans, writers, and poets to Antarctica so that they can help express in unique ways what this continent is all about. How do you express an impression of a place? What ways can you show how a place makes you feel other than through the use of words?
I challenge any of you who would like to design a window to use any medium you'd like and then mail it to my school. When I get home I will take pictures of the art and post them on the journal. I'll then use them to create a poster of stained glass designs. The address is Gary Wesche, St. Regis Catholic School, 8941 James A Reed Rd., Kansas City, MO, 64138
Here are a few pictures I took of the Chapel of the Snows. DESIGN YOUR WINDOW BEFORE YOU LOOK!!
The place of worship here in McMurdo Station, Antarctica.
This window overlooks the sea ice of the Ross Sea.
Notice the symbols included in this window
In this unique place there are men who serve as spiritual advisors to those who are working here. During the summer the USA Air National Guard provides a protestant chaplain, and a Catholic chaplain is provided by New Zealand. These men provide prayer and worship services, counseling, and the Sacraments. While based here in McMurdo they do travel to other locations on the continent as needed. For example Father Peter Head will be traveling to the South Pole station to conduct a mass for the celebration of Christmas next week and then hopes the weather allows for him to return to McMurdo for services here as well. I hope you enjoy the interviews with these two men of faith. These are men who minister to people far from home, yet connect them to the church worldwide.
[video steve] [video peter]
Trekkers, I look forward to your artistic interpretations of Antarctica in stained glass.
Trekkers, great men and women of science have often been musicians, painters, and poets as well. Use your creativity.
Mr. W