Old St. Patrick's Windows a Gift of True Christian Charity

Through the kind generosity of the Allegheny County Ancient Order of Hibernians and spearheaded by AOH 32, our two year crusade to gift windows to Old St. Patrick’s Church in Pittsburgh's Strip District (on the corner of Liberty Avenue and 17th Street) was accomplished and the AOH’s honorable tradition of gifting windows to Catholic churches will continue to inspire future generations of Irish Catholic faithful.

The new stained glass windows of Saint Brigid of Kildare and Saint Patrick of Ireland - designed and crafted by Nick Parrendo of the Hunt Stained Glass Studios - were blessed by Bishop Bradley of the Diocese of Pittsburgh on Saint Patrick’s Day, March 17th 2006.

The media loved our story. KDKA-TV, WTAE-TV and WPXI-TV covered the Mass along with front page/main section stories in the Pittsburgh Catholic, Pittsburgh Tribune Review and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Here is a brief backgrounder about the symbolism of the windows.

Saint Patrick of Ireland
Born: 387 at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland Died: March 17, 493 at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland (460 or 461 by other sources). Canonized: pre-congregation. Buried in Downpatrick, Ireland.

Patron of Ireland, and as represented in the window, bishop holding the shamrock used to explain the mystery of the Blessed Trinity. To Saint Patrick’s right is a representation of Saint Patrick enslaved as a shepherd in Ireland and instructed by the Angels to flee his enslavement.

Below both Saint Brigid and Saint Patrick are representations of stone posts and lintels -symbolic of the darkness and oppression of the people through the druid influence. Above them is a Celtic Cross symbolic of the liberation that the Catholic faith brings to the people of Ireland and the world. Saint Patrick stands atop a globe symbolic of his being one of the Saints universally recognized around the world. The likeness of Saint Patrick in the window is that of Fran Walsh, who for decades represented Saint Patrick in Pittsburgh’s annual Saint Patrick's Day parade. May he rest in peace!

Saint Brigid of Kildare
Born: 453 at Faughart, County Louty, Ireland. Died: February 1, 523 at Kildare, Ireland Canonized: pre-congregation. Buried with Saint Patrick and Saint Columba in Downpatrick, Ireland.

Patroness of Ireland, and as represented in the window Saint Brigid is holding a cross she wove out of rushes from the floor to explain the love of Christ in His Passion.

To Saint Brigid's left are students holding manuscripts -as Saint Brigid founded a school of art (Illuminations). Also to the left is a ship representing Saint Patrick coming to Ireland as slave.

To the right of Saint Brigid is Saint Patrick's Rock/the Rock of Cashel.

All of God’s Blessings to members of AOH 32, LAOH 32 and the AOH 32 Junior Division who unselfishly gave of themselves to support our holy crusade for Old St. Patrick's Church, for witnessing the great things we can do together in true Christian Charity!