Communion of Saints Ambo

New Ambo

Communion of Saints Parish in Cleveland Heights, Ohio recently commissioned Henninger's to supply a new marble ambo.  The goal of the design was to match the existing Altar of Sacrifice.  This Altar was originally at St. Mary Seminary on Ansel Road.  When the Seminary moved to the Center for Pastoral leadership in Wickliffe in 1991, the pastor of St. Ann Church in Cleveland Heights, Rev. Thomas Mahoney, acquired its Altar:

Existing Altar of Sacrifice

While this Altar is certainly beautiful and massive, the Ambo never matched its style:

Mismatched styles of Ambo and Altar of Sacrifice

Design for matching Ambo, Photoshopped into sanctuary

New Ambo design

After its merger with neighboring churches in 2009, a new parish was created at St. Ann's, named Communion of Saints Parish.  The new pastor, Rev. John McNulty asked Henninger's to investigate a new ambo.  After a few designs and consulting with Associate Pastor, Rev. Matthew Byrne, a design was made to mimic the shape, style, and species of marble that already existed in the Altar of Sacrifice.  After approval of the design, the job was sent to Carrara, Italy for fabrication.  The fabricators sent shop drawings which were revised, then approved.

Shop Drawings from Italy

One of the final details was choosing the bible verse that was to be engraved on the gold mosaic medallion.  Rev. Matthew Byrne selected "Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing".

Engraved scroll on mosaic medallion

The Ambo was then shipped in multiple pieces to Henninger's and assembled in their shop.  On Thursday, April 6 (two days before Palm Sunday), Henninger's crew delivered and installed the Ambo in one piece to Communion of Saints.  Most people had one of two reactions:

1. You matched the Altar perfectly
2. You must have found the old Ambo from St. Mary Seminary