Dear Parishioners of St. Elizabeth Seton,
When you picture a golden dome in your mind, do you immediately see yourself walking the campus of Notre Dame University and view the golden dome over the administration building? Or do you envision Jerusalem’s Dome of the Rock, or the historic Orthodox Church in Ukraine at St. Michael’s Golden Domed Monastery? These domes are beautiful and unique in their own way, just as the domes at St. Elizabeth Seton are unique. There are many factors to work together to elevate the beauty of these visually iconic and signature cupolas.
The underlying construction of the golden dome at the University of Notre Dame is an iron frame with the visible exterior of the dome composed of copper sheeting which serves as microscopic outer layer for the 23-karat gold leaf paint. The Jerusalem Dome is made of aluminum and bronze alloy covered with 176 pounds of 24-karat gold leaf. This dome has been replaced many times with various materials as it does not hold up in the heat of Jerusalem. And in Ukraine, the Monastery domes are made of golden iron and stone.
Here at St. Elizabeth Seton, our domes are made of masonry applied over thin metal support beams. They are not iron or aluminum or copper. While we considered using an expensive metallic paint over the stucco with a clear acrylic coating, the summer heat does not allow this a sustainable option. The head of Paint Corps has shared his concern that we may be less satisfied with the metallic paint than the current paint. It would be expensive, short lived, and fade quickly under the summer sun. This opinion was confirmed by the manufacturer of the paint.
The use of golden color in Catholicism points to holiness and it serves as a visual reminder of the Divine Presence. I researched the liturgical relationship between the color of a dome and a Catholic Church. While gold is not required of any structures, any parish can selectively choose to paint their dome gold. At the University of Notre Dame, founder Reverend Edward R. Sorin declared that the statue of Our Lady atop the golden dome, was a symbol of the “Glory of God” for all to see.
As part of our Jubilee renovation, we painted the domes gold based on an historic rendering of St. Elizabeth Seton. Fifty years ago, the domes were painted a shade of gold. The founders and early builders of our parish created a beacon in the desert to help lead people to an encounter with the Most Holy and what they achieved was remarkable. Those golden domes declared that St. Elizabeth Seton was built, stood proud, and welcomed the community of believers to celebrate, pray, and worship God. May we be drawn to our golden domes during this Golden Jubilee and celebrate as they did fifty years ago an invitation for all to see the Glory of God.
In Christ and with Gratitude,
Dr. Kathleen H. Goeppinger
Jubilee Chair
