This week, we had the privilege of attending the opening of a new church—rebuilt from the ashes after a devastating act of arson. What stood out most wasn’t the newness of the structure, or even the elegance of the design. It was the people.
Many of the parishioners gathered there had once worshipped at Sacred Heart Church. For them, stained glass isn’t just decoration or architectural reverence—it’s storytelling. It’s scripture. It’s memory. We watched as they paused in front of a familiar panel now installed in their new sanctuary: Jesus washing the feet of His disciples.
That image—quiet, humble, deeply human—cut through all the grandeur. It reminded us of what servant leadership really looks like. It’s not about building monuments. It’s about meeting people where they are. Washing feet. Listening. Serving.
At JARIC, we take preservation seriously. But visiting this community reminded us of something deeper: we’re not just restoring buildings—we’re holding space for meaning, memory, and continuity. Sacred architecture is never just about form. It’s about function in the most profound sense: the function of belonging.
We must not only preserve the stained glass—we must listen to the light it casts on the lives of those who still gather beneath it.