Parish helps create banner for canonization

Madison parishioners help create banner for canonization of St. Junipero Serra

PHOTO | COURTESY OF RAMBUSCH

CANONIZATION  Rambusch, a Jersey City-based company owned by two brothers from St. Vincent Martyr Parish, Madison, created the banner for the canonization of St. Junipero Serra by Pope Francis Sept. 23 in Washington, D.C.. It displays an image of the saint holding a likeness of the second mission he founded in Carmel, Calif.

WASHINGTON  Pope Francis instantly grabbed the world’s attention, when he canonized Junipero Serra, an 18th-century missionary saint, on Sept. 23 in Washington during the first Mass of his historic trip to the U.S. — much to the delight of the 25,000 faithful in attendance, including Bishop Serratelli, Bishop Emeritus Rodimer and many other Catholics from the Paterson Diocese. On a circular window in the sanctuary of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception here, a 30-foot-high, 16-foot-wide blue-and-gold banner quietly captured the attention of churchgoers — and the world — with its striking image of St. Serra that brought to life his missionary spirit and holiness. Watching during that Mass with “quiet excitement” from the pews were Martin Ramusch and his twin brother, Edwin, both of St. Vincent Marytr Parish, Madison. That’s because their Jersey City-based company, Rambusch, created the vinyl banner for the canonization, which was adorned with several other colors and displayed a photographic image of the saint from an oil painting that was derived from a stained-glass window in the basilica. “This [creation of the banner] has been very satisfying on a personal and corporate level. I was also proud for everyone at Ramusch, who helped create the banner. It [the canonization] was such a unique event. It was exciting,” said Martin Rambusch, who attended the outdoor Mass with his brother and their parents. “There is a halation of white from behind St. Serra’s head to give a sense of saint’s holiness. We modified the traditional Roman frame to include Pope Francis’ coat of arms, basilica’s coat of arms and St. Serra’s image to tell the story of the canonization,” he said. The family-owned company offered its services to the basilica to create the St. Serra banner, after having made banners for two other canonizations that were held in Rome: ones for St. John Neumann and St. Katherine Drexel. Founded by the twin’s great-grandfather in 1898, Rambusch also creates lighting fixtures, art, mosaics and furnishings for all types of buildings — not only houses of worship, Martin Rambusch said. “The canonization Mass was spectacular,” Martin Rambusch said. “In his homily, Pope Francis put forward his message clearly. He is a class act,” he said. On Sept. 23, both Bishop Serratelli and Bishop Emeritus Rodimer not only attended the canonization Mass in the afternoon, but also a morning prayer service for bishops with Pope Francis at nearby Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. Joining Bishop Rodimer was Msgr. George Hundt, St. Vincent’s pastor. “Pope Francis always has something to say that’s very personal and that’s worthy of our thoughts and taking it to heart. When he speaks, he is so at ease and loves to be with people,” said Bishop Rodimer, who noted that he never met the pontiff. “I was about five feet away from him at St. Matthew’s. That’s thrill enough for me!” he said. In the afternoon, Pope Francis canonized St. Serra, a Spanish Franciscan missionary, who founded schools for American Indians in California, during the Mass, celebrated in several languages, including his native Spanish language and the Native American Chochenyo language. The saint — whose canonization was criticized by some Native American groups for his brutal ways of disciplining students — nevertheless embodies “a Church which goes forth,” the pontiff said. “Father Serra had a motto which inspired his life and work, a saying he lived his life by: Siempre adelante! Keep moving forward!” Pope Francis said. “For him, this was the way to continue experiencing the joy of the Gospel, to keep his heart from growing numb, from being anesthetized…Today, like him, may we be able to say: Forward! Let’s keep moving forward!” Pope Francis said. Earlier in the day, the Pope presided over a prayer service for about 300 U.S. bishops at St. Matthew’s, where he called on the Church to be more compassionate. “Pope Francis’ words are clear and go directly to the heart. It is encouraging and moving to be in his presence. The Pope is amazing. He makes us so proud to be Catholic,” Msgr. Hundt said. “I felt privileged to be a part of the day.”