Baptismal Font - Jesus and John the Baptist

Jesus and John the Baptist - Baptismal Font 

Saint Michael Catholic Church 

Fort Loramie Ohio

Diary of a Steeple Chaser

August 30, 2012 

New Slide Show - The new slide show in the upper left corner is in the development stage. The vision is a slide show featuring 5 pictures from each church.

New Featured Post - About This Blog. This Featured Post has a brief history of the churches and the blog and a site map to boot.

Weekly Reading - I am switching gears yet again and replacing the Weekly Scripture Post with a passage from the weekly reading from Saturday's Mass. You will find this new feature at the bottom of the blog. There will not be an archive for these post like there was for the Weekly Scripture. 

Re-Edit of old Post - I am still working on 2008 but progress is being made.

Christmas Advent Series - I am toying with the idea of creating a special series of picture post for December. I am not yet completely sold on the idea but I am looking at the possibilities. 

St. John Fryburg Homecoming - I have been invited to take pictures this Sunday (Weather Permitting) of this weekends homecoming.  I am pretty excited for the opportunity to yet get some more pictures of the churches with people. And yes there will be an upcoming post with some of the pics.

Russ Martin - Steeple Chaser

Please Stay Back

Confessional

Saint Michael Catholic Church

Fort Loramie Ohio

In Paradise

Altar Crucifix with Scripture 

Saint Michael Catholic Church 

Fort Loramie Ohio

Domed Arch Ceiing - Before and After

I am amazed sometimes when I see all the work that has gone into painting some of these churches. The Domed Arch above the altar at Saint Michael is a piece of art all by itself.

The below pic is the same picture after I have had some editing fun.

Domed Arch Ceiling 

Saint Michael Catholic Church 

Fort Loramie Ohio

Altar Rail Saint Michael

Even the communion rails at St. Michael look awesome.

Communion Rail 

Saint Michael Catholic Church 

Fort Loramie Ohio

Station IV

Jesus Meets His Sorrowful Mother 

"We adore you, O Christ and we bless you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world."

Come, all you who pass by the way, look around and see. Is any suffering like My suffering that was inflicted on Me? 
Lamentations 1:12

Sorrowful Mother Mary, allow me to share your sorrow so that the Holy Passion of my Lord remains always vivid within me as a reminder of God's Love for me .
Come to meet me also in my sorrowful journey to the Lord.

Scripture - The Way of the Cross Devotion

Station of the Cross

Saint Michael Catholic Church

Fort Loramie Ohio

Weeky Scripture

1 John 5:13
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

Jesus Dies on the Cross - Poster Series

As most of you all know by now - I am a big fan of the Stations of the Cross. St. Michael has a very large and well kept set. I used a little post processing to make this one special.

Station of the Cross X - Jesus Dies on the Cross 

Saint Michael Catholic Church 

Fort Loramie Ohio

Sculpted Altar with Stained Glass Window

A few of the altars I have taken pictures of will have a stained glass window on the sides and as pictured here in the middle at the top. This one caught my attention because of how creepy it looked.

Sculpted Altar with Stained Glass Window Background 

Saint Michael Catholic Church 

Fort Loramie Ohio

Choir Loft and Organ - St. Michael

I know you've seen one you seen them all, but I just love the symmetry and how cool this looks in Black and white.

Choir Loft and Organ 

Saint Michael Catholic Church 

Fort Loramie Ohio

Altar Relief - St. Joseph Altar

I just loved the geometric patterns in this one.

Altar Relief - St. Joseph Altar 
Saint Michael Catholic Church 

Fort Loramie Ohio

Eucharistic Minister

This is one of my favorite groupings in this church. I have posted a previous picture with three crosses. I like the way the one cross faces forward where you can read the words and the other hangs side ways.

Eucharistic Minister Cross 

Saint Michael Catholic Church 

Fort Loramie Ohio

Diary of a Steeple Chaser

August 19, 2012 

Wow, August is almost over and I have no idea were the month went. This summer has been one big blur.  I hope you are enjoying this months featured Church, Saint Michael of Fort Loramie.  There were so many pics to choose from that I am using some of the ones that didn't get posted in August for September.

Featured Post - As promised I have updated and added some new Featured Post. I will be adding to the Selected Poetry and Selected Prayer List as I continue to make may way through the old post. I am almost through 2008. I will soon be adding an About Post to further clarify the elements of the blog and update The Ohio Byway "The Land of the Cross Tipped Churches" to be more of a virtual tour format.

Speaking of Virtual Tours - This is something I am hoping to do next year. Not so much a complete pictorial , but I nice photo summary of the church complete with a little history. Besides the tours I am also going to try and do a few postings with interviews. Yep 2013 is starting to look like an interesting year for the blog.

Looking at the Categories, it's easy to see which churches could use a little more love. This will also be addressed next year. As mentioned in last months Diary Entry- September will be a catch up month with no plans for having a featured church. I am still not sure on what is going to happen with October, November and December.

The Way of the Cross Series II - I am giving this series a rest after this one completes this year and replace it with a special Advent Series on Sundays starting in January.

October Special - I will be touring the churches with the Piqua YWCA in October. I will definitely be taking pictures and posting the tour on the blog. This will be one of those rare occasions where I get to have people in the pictures that I take.

Russ Martin - Steeple Chaser

Station III

Jesus Falls For The First Time 

"We adore you, O Christ and we bless you. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world."

Here is My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on Him and He will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise His voice in the streets. Isaiah 42:1-2

Lord in this first fall you atoned for the original sin of all humanity, I thank you and praise for your unlimited love for me, please Lord, help me not to sin any more.

Scripture - The Way of the Cross Devotion

Station of the Cross

Saint Michael Catholic Church

Fort Loramie Ohio

Weekly Scripture

Micah 6:8 ESV  

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Saint Ursula

Saint Ursula Memorial and Relic

Saint Michael Catholic Church

Fort Loramie Ohio

Roman Missal

Roman Missal

Saint Michael Catholic Church

Fort Loramie Ohio

Praying Mary and Flag

I've taken pictures of this portrait before, but this is the first time I have included the flag that sets beside it.

Praying Virgin Mary and Flag

Saint Michael Catholic Church

Fort Loramie Ohio

Saint Charles - Postcard Black & White Series

Saint Charles 

Carthegena Ohio

Go Green

Every one is going Green these days. It gave me a warm fuzzy to see the Catholic Church is doing their part.

Recycle/Go Green Donation Boxes

Saint Michael Catholic Church

Fort Loramie Ohio

Immaculate Heart of Mary

By tradition, the Catholic Church dedicates each month of the year to a certain devotion. In August, it is the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Immaculate Heart is often venerated together with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Just as the Sacred Heart represents Christ's love for mankind, the Immaculate Heart represents the Blessed Virgin's desire to lead all people to Christ.

The above text is from Catholicism About .com .

Immaculate Heart of Mary Statue

Saint Michael Catholic Church

Fort Loramie Ohio

Station II

Jesus Receives His Cross

"We adore you, O Christ and we bless you. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world."

He emptied Himself and took the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. Philippians 2:7

Jesus, you carried that heavy cross upon your wounded shoulder, and yet the weight of the cross was my sinfulness, so I repent of my sins and I beg you to grant me your Salvation. Forgive me Lord that I have failed to do your Holy Will.

Scripture - The Way of the Cross Devotion

Station of the Cross

Saint Michael Catholic Church

Fort Loramie Ohio

Weekly Scripture

Psalm 126:5-6 (New Living Translation) says "Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest."

Other than churches you can often find me hanging out in old cemeteries with my camera. It is always a great way to spend a sunny afternoon. This picture was taken in winter and I think the snow just added to the shot.

This is a re-post from 2010.

Cross Tipped Church Presentation

In preparation for their upcoming tour of The Land of the Cross Tipped Churches. I gave a presentation with pictures from my blog to the YWCA in Piqua the other day. This is the second time that I have done this. There were a good number of people in attendance and it looks like they are going to have a good turnout for the tour, which I get to go on. I am looking forward to the tour and of course taking pictures of the event and posting them.

Our Father Bells

Normally when I find Sanctus Bells in a church the are just setting on the floor. So I was quite surprised when I found these on their own special velvet pillow and stool.

According the Adoremus Bulletin - Sanctus Bells Their History and Use in the Catholic Church :Sanctus bells are also referred to as: altar bells, Mass bells, Our Father bells, sacring bells, saints' bells, sance-bells, sancte bells, saunce-bells and squilla bells.

Sanctus Bells

Saint Michael Catholic Church

Fort Loramie Ohio

Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus - St. Michael

I wonder what the artist was thinking when he gave this facial expression to Mary in this statue?

Virgin Mary Altar Statue with Baby Jesus

Saint Michael Catholic Church

Fort Loramie Ohio

Statues of St. Michael Main Entrance

Visitors to Saint Michael are greeted by this impressive statue of St. Michael above the main entrance.

Statue St. Michael over Entrance

Saint Michael Catholic Church

Fort Loramie Ohio

Cross Tipped Spire of St. Michael

I really had a good photo outing this time when I visited the St. Michael Church. I was looking at some of my old post on this church and knew I could do better. I think this picture of the cross tipped spire with clock came out pretty nice.

Cross Tipped Spire 

Saint Michael Catholic Church 

Fort Loramie Ohio

St. Michael Left and Right Entrance

Above is the left entrance of the St. Michael Church and below is the right.

Left and Right Entrance 

Saint Michael Catholic Church 

Fort Loramie Ohio

Station I

 Jesus is Condemned to Death

"We adore you, O Christ and we bless you. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world."

When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and a purple robe, Pilate said to them: "Look at the Man!" John 19:5

 Lord Jesus, you are the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, you have been humiliated because of my pride, I am sorry to have enthroned the kingdom of the world in my heart, please grant me to attach myself only to you.

Scripture - The Way of the Cross Devotion

Station of the Cross

Saint Michael Catholic Church

Fort Loramie Ohio

Weekly Scripture

Ephesians 6:18

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. -- New International Version (NIV)

Posted with Blogsy

The Top Ten Pictures for 2011

1. Eucharist in Stained Glass - Saint Rose. When taking pictures of Stain Glass I look for ways I can take something other than the normal shot. I was able to do just that with this picture I took at St. Rose. From the Arch to the Reflection of the colors on the wall they all work together to make this a keeper.

2. Third Nail/Crucifix - Saint Rose Cemetery. This pictures post was titled Third Nail and detailed the pain and suffering that a person suffered when crucified. Sometimes the compelling nature of the subject is what makes it memorable.

3. Station of the Cross - Shrine of the Holy Relics. When I got my iPad2 I couldn't help but play around with some of the cool photo effects that came with some of the photo software. I thought this one came out pretty cool.

4. Crucifix - Shrine of the Holy Relics. This one was taken with my iPad2 and is one of the few pictures that I have taken with it that I liked. The sun rays really make this a one of a kind.

5. Fatima Statue and Prayer - Shrine of the Holy Relics. Sometimes I get lucky and get a cool angle that you don't see too often. Adding the prayer just made it all that more special.

 

6. Paper Mache Crucifix - Shrine of the Holy Relics. When I saw this awesome crucifix and the background I could get - I knew right away that I was going to be able to add a bible verse and which one it was going to be.



7. Mary Christmas Wreath with Three Crosses - Sacred Heart of Jesus. This is another one of those pictures taken in December of 2010 and posted in 2011. I tweaked the colors and added the three crosses in PhotoShop. I like it when you can add another dynamic without overdoing it.



8. Sorrowful Mother - Saint Joseph Egypt. Sometimes an image will just haunt you. I had tried and tried to get a picture that I liked of this statue for several years. The lighting and angle finally came after much hard work and rotten pictures.

9. Confessional - Saint Patrick. This is one of those where the picture you see didn't look quite like the original. I darkened and highlighted the whole image to create the mood that I wanted it to portray.

10. Sacred Heart of Jesus Statue - Saint John Fryburg. I added a special photoshop filter to get this effect. The coolest thing is that a church contacted me and wanted to use this image for the cover of their directory and web page. Of course I said yes.



I could of easily posted another ten pictures for this year. 2011 was a good year for me photo quality wise.

St. Michael Entrance a Before and After

It has been sometime since I posted one of my pictures with the - Before Edit and After. So I thought I post one from my most recent photo outing.  I have been trying for awhile to get some exterior pictures of the St. Michael Church that I liked.  It's a very photogenic church, but your options are hampered by power lines.  The above picture is one that I liked of the entrance and I thought it came out awesome in Black and White.

I recently started a Black and White Post-Card Series with the churches. I am thinking of doing a dozen of these and then doing another one in color. I am trying to come up with a technique that has a vintage look and feel. The above image is one of my first attempts.

And this my friends is the image that I started with. Amazing what a little creative post processing can do.

Entrance
Saint Michael Catholic Church
Fort Loramie Ohio