BY ERIKA ANDERSON

Staff Writer

DAHLONEGA--Using the metaphor that faith is a window, Archbishop John F. Donoghue celebrated a special Mass at St. Luke Church Dec. 5 to bless the 17 new stained glass windows.

"These windows are for many things--they are for their own sake, certainly, and we appreciate them just as they are," Archbishop Donoghue said in his homily. "But they are also a symbol of greater things, of spiritual things."

In January construction began on the new windows, along with a plan to enlarge the altar area of the historic church building in order to add space for the choir and organ. The renovations were completed just before Easter.

The windows were paid for by parishioners as memorials to honor deceased friends and loved ones. They depict 10 different biblical scenes and were created by Rob Steele Stained Glass of Dahlonega.

Gary Schonleber is the head of the maintenance committee and the instigator of the renovations, said his wife, Janet.

"When it was brought up at the parish council, Gary immediately volunteered to do it," she said.

Schonleber, who attended the Mass on crutches following knee surgery, said that he is pleased with the way the church turned out.

"For a small church, it is really beautiful," he said. "It is a 100-year-old building and we didn't want to modernize it too much. We wanted to keep it basically the same as it was. I think we've done that."

The renovations, which cost $43,000, including $20,000 for the windows, were done by Appalachian Construction Co. and contractor Jim Coombs. Schonleber said that most of the designing was actually done during the renovations.

"I had to oversee and work with the contractor," he said. "But we designed a lot as we went along."

The design created a nook for Mary's statue in the front of the church where the organ used to be. A new St. Joseph statue was added in the back where the Marian statue once stood.

St. Luke's is the oldest church building in Dahlonega. In November 1899 construction began on the building just off the courthouse square, which originally housed a Presbyterian congregation.

St. Luke's Parish was established by the Glenmary Home Missioners in 1960 and was turned over to the Archdiocese of Atlanta in 1981, according to Glenmary archives.

St. Luke's pastor, Father Edward Danneker, said that the parish, which has 110 families, is growing.

"We have quite a few new parishioners who want to be very active," Father Danneker said.

Archbishop Donoghue told the parishioners of St. Luke that they should see the windows as symbols of faith.

"Faith is a window through which we see things as they really are, and faith is a window through which we see things as they are meant to be, and, once again, faith is a window through which we see things as they will be in eternity," Archbishop Donoghue said.

"As we look upon these beautiful new windows in our church...let us also bless the Father in Heaven, for the many gifts He has bestowed upon us, and which, through us, He shares with all men and women."