Vestibules

As you enter any of the four main doors of the parish, on the floor of each vestibule you’ll notice a mosaic representation of loaves of bread and fishes, reminiscent of Matthew’s Gospel, Chapter 14, Verses 13-21. In this Gospel, Jesus taught a group of 5,000. As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late.” They said, “Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish.”

Jesus said, “Bring them here to me,” and he directed his disciples to have the people sit in groups of 50 and 100. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to Heaven, Jesus gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied.

The disciples picked up 12 basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about 5,000 men, along with women and children.

These mosaics remind us today that we also gather in this church to hear the words of Christ and to be fed. However, we are fed with the food of Eternal Life, the Precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus that is only found in the Holy Eucharist. Because of Jesus’ love for us, he offers us an abundance of life now and eternally. Not by coincidence, the seating areas are designed to seat about 50 people each.