The following information was gathered mostly from Fr. Wilbert Hegener, O.F.M. A small amount is from the “Dictionary of Saints” by John Delaney.
Main Altar (reredos)
- Top Center: St. Francis Xavier, Jesuit missionary to many eastern lands, especially India. Called by the Pope “the right arm of the Church”
- Left: St. Boniface, English missionary to Germany; a bishop. Martyred in 754.
- Left of Crucifix: St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan Order. Had the stigmata (the wounds of Christ). Died 1226.
- Right of Crucifix: St. Bernardine of Sienna, Franciscan priest. He was an exceptional preacher. Died 1441.
- Right: St. Patrick, kidnapped as a boy from England and carried to Ireland as a slave. After several years he made a miraculous escape, then later returned to Ireland as a bishop and missionary. Died 1552. His body is incorrupt (has not decayed).
- Center: Crucifixion of Jesus, with His Mother, Mary, on the left and St. John, the Apostle and Evangelist, on the right
- Beneath the altar is a depiction of the Last Supper
Left Side Altar
- Small angel at the very top
- Mary, the Mother of God
- Left of Mary: St. Clare, foundress of the Poor Clares and a friend of St. Francis of Assisi. She was queen, and very generous to the poor. A Franciscan legend is that on one occasion she was going out with her mantle full of food for the poor when her mother-in-law demanded to see what she had. When Elizabeth opened her cape, it was filled with roses. Died 1253 at the age of 24.
- Right of Mary: St. Elizabeth of Hungary, patroness of the Secular Franciscan Order. She was very generous to the poor. Died 1231.
- Beneath the altar is a depiction of the Annunciation
Right Side of Altar
- Center: St. Joseph, spouse of Mary and foster father of Jesus
- Left of Joseph: St. Stephen of Hungary, king and patron of Hungary. In spite of his great power and riches, he practiced great mortifications and humility. Died 1038.
- Right of Joseph: St. Casimir, Polish prince and patron of Poland. He was very devoted to Mary, and practiced great mortifications and humility. Died 1484.
- Beneath the altar is a depiction of the Death of St. Joseph, Jesus and Mary with him
Niches inside the church proper
At the head of the ramp entry off State St.: St. Anthony of Padua, Franciscan priest and Doctor of the Church. He usually spoke outside, since none of the churches could hold the crowds. Legend says that one day when he was praying, the Child Jesus appeared in his arms and told Anthony that He loved him. Died 1231.
In the Gathering Space
The Sacred Heart of Jesus
Lower Level of the Gathering Space
- The Pieta, the Blessed Mother holding the dead body of Jesus
- St. Francis of Assisi
- There is also a banner from 1887 depicting St. Francis Xavier
- The Triumphant Risen Jesus
- St. Jude, the Apostle and patron of impossible causes
- St. Ann, mother of Mary, with the child Mary
- The Infant of Prague
- Our Lady of Grace ( a copy of the statue at Medjugorje)