Stained Glass by Jenifer McVaugh

These windows are in the Nativity of Our Lady Church on the land of the Pikwakinagan First Nation, near Golden Lake.The first was made in about 1987 and the last one ten or more years later. Our church is dedicated to the Nativity of our Lady, and the windows all show saints as First Nations people, and celebrate the saintliness of Christ's earthly heritage.

I was grateful to be one of many people who worked on these windows, one person could not have done them alone.

The blessed Virgin as a little girl with St. Anne
Larger Image

The first one is in the centre of the east wall. It shows The blessed Virgin as a little girl holding a toy cradleboard and standing in front of her mother, Saint Anne, who looks a bit like a tree. The beadwork on this window highlights the outfits of the girl and her mother, and decorates the cradle-board. people.

the resurrected Jesus
Larger Image

The second window is across the aisle from the first. It shows the resurrected Jesus standing in a canoe (!) and holding a large red disk. The beadwork is elaborate and stylized.

Blessed Katiri Katekwitha
Larger Image

The third window, on the east wall closest to the altar, shows Bl. Katiri Katekwitha. She is wrapped in bearskins and standing on a hill on a snowy night, looking forward. Beads act as stars in this window, and there is a beaded border.

Sacrament of Reconciliation
Larger Image

The fourth window , across from Bl. Katiri, and right next to the area dedicated to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, shows an Algonquin man in contemporary dress burning sweetgrass. Behind him are offerings of incense. Smoke rises like the breath of the Holy Spirit. The beads on this window highlight the man's vest and handsome belt buckle.

St. Juan Diego
Larger Image

The fifth window to be made shows St. Juan Diego, to whom appeared the Virgin of Guadalupe. In this church he is identified by his Nahuatl name, Cuatlatóac. Traces of the apparition of the Blessed Virgin can be seen in the folds and beadwork of this window which represents the flowers (even a butterfly!) that fell out of Cuatlatóac's cloak when he was sent by Our Lady to witness to the Bishop of Mexico in the 16th century.

honouring Creator God
Larger Image

The final window is in the choir loft. It shows a young woman creating a dance in a sunny clearing, honouring Creator God in her creation. Beadwork dances on her dress.

Return to Main Page