Welcome
Welcome to St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church
via cyberspace!
Pope Benedict emitus encouraged priests to embrace the new digital media to create a deeper form of relationship with the faithful across greater distrances. Wherever you are out there in cyberspace, we are delighted that you have sought out our parish!
St. Michael's is a very vibrant Catholic Church reaching out to all the community in Woodstock. I encourage you to browse our website to see the many opportunities to deepen your faith life and to grow in holiness.
We have many outreach ministries such as St. Vincent de Paul Society and St. Michael's Food Pantry which reaches out to the poor and those in need in our community and beyond. If you are moving to the Woodstock area, I welcome you to our parish family.
May God bless you and your family as we journey to the Father's house together.
Fr. Larry Niese, Pastor
490 Arnold Mill Road
Woodstock, Georgia
770-516-0009
This is a brief explanation of our church and the furnishing.
The design of the building was formed from a consensus of the building committee and the imput of many parishioners.
St. Michael's was dedicated by Archbishop John Frances Donaghue on
March 19, 1999.
The furnishings in the inside of the Church come from both near and far and reflect the traditions of our faith and our unity with Rome, the heart of the Church.
As you enter the Church you see a statue of St. Michael the Archangel in the courtyard. St. Michael the Archangel is our patron and with his wings extended we pray to be under his protection as he combats the forces of evil. The statue was comissioned and made especially for St. Michael's in Mexico.
There is both a chapel and a main sanctuary in the church. The chapel is illminated with beautiful stained glass windows. In the center, above the altar, is a round rose stained glass window depicting the Blessed Trinity. The top circle is the hand of God reaching down to earth. The large middle circle is the Holy Spirit who descended down from heaven in the form of a dove. The bottom circle is the victorious lamb, Jesus, who through his death and resurrection was triumphant. On the left side of the dome are the Greek letters alpha and omega which Jesus spoke to signify the eternal reign of God. On both sides of the rose window are the Saints and Angles, the heavenly host in praise and worship of the Triune God.
On the left side of the Altar is a stained glass of St. Michael the Archangel, our patron saint. On the right side is a stained glass window of St. Catherine of Sienna in honor of our Mother Church from which St. Michael's was founded, St. Catherine of Sienna in Kennesaw, Georgia.
The remainder of the stained glass windows depict the Glorious Mysteries of the rosary. The Resurrection, the Ascension, Pentecost, the Assumption of Mary and Crowning of Mary.
Below the stained glass windows are the Stations of the Cross which were purchased from Italy. The lectern in the Chapel is also from Italy and on the front shows the symbols for the four evangelist: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The brass candle sticks and the presider's chair match the candle sticks in the main sanctuary and come from Mexico and Italy respectfully.
The red color of the chairs represents the sacrifice of Christ and the gold border along the red fabric represents the Kingship of Christ.
The processional cross which is used for mass was purchased at one of the major basilicas in Rome., "Paul Outside the Wall". The corss is the papal cross that was used by both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Only the Pope can use the true papal cross so artisans are required to make slight alterations in replicas of the papal cross.
As you enter the main sanctuary you are immediately greated by the baptismal font and the pascal candle (also referred to as the Easter candle). The font was made by a local wood craftsman in Atlanta and the pascal candle holder from Mexico. The shape of the font and tile floor on which it stands are octagonal. The octagon shape of the baptismal font is an ancient symbol of the Church representing the "eighth day" of creation when we were created anew in Christ. Christ rose from the dead on the eighth day and we eat the bread on the eighth day.
At the front of the Church is the Altar, Ambo and Sacrament Table, which supports the Tabernacle, made in the same style as the Baptismal Font. The spiral legs which support each of these pieces are designed similar to the Papal Altar in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The quatrefoil design symbolized the cross and the circle which surrounds it represents eternity.
The for brass candle sticks which are at the four corners of the Altar are from Mexico. Four represents the four corners of the earth, encompassing the universality of the Church.
The brass Stations of the Cross which surround the congregation were acquired in Rome.
The San Damiano Crucifix behind the Altar was custom made The curcifix is a replica of the cross which spoke to St. Francis of Assisi and told him to "rebuild my Church", nearly 800 years. ago.
(to read complete description about the crucifix go to "About" tab and click on San Damiano Cross)
To the left of the Altar is relief of the Holy Family which was also specially handcrafted for St. Michael's in Italy. The Holy Family is the representation of the holiness of St. Michael's families.
There is both a chapel and a main sanctuary in the church. The chapel is illminated with beautiful stained glass windows. In the center, above the altar, is a round rose stained glass window depicting the Blessed Trinity. The top circle is the hand of God reaching down to earth. The large middle circle is the Holy Spirit who descended down from heaven in the form of a dove. The bottom circle is the victorious lamb, Jesus, who through his death and resurrection was triumphant. On the left side of the dome are the Greek letters alpha and omega which Jesus spoke to signify the eternal reign of God. On both sides of the rose window are the Saints and Angles, the heavenly host in praise and worship of the Triune God.
On the left side of the Altar is a stained glass of St. Michael the Archangel, our patron saint. On the right side is a stained glass window of St. Catherine of Sienna in honor of our Mother Church from which St. Michael's was founded, St. Catherine of Sienna in Kennesaw, Georgia.
The remainder of the stained glass windows depict the Glorious Mysteries of the rosary. The Resurrection, the Ascension, Pentecost, the Assumption of Mary and Crowning of Mary.
Below the stained glass windows are the Stations of the Cross which were purchased from Italy. The lectern in the Chapel is also from Italy and on the front shows the symbols for the four evangelist: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The brass candle sticks and the presider's chair match the candle sticks in the main sanctuary and come from Mexico and Italy respectfully.
The red color of the chairs represents the sacrifice of Christ and the gold border along the red fabric represents the Kingship of Christ.
The processional cross which is used for mass was purchased at one of the major basilicas in Rome., "Paul Outside the Wall". The corss is the papal cross that was used by both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Only the Pope can use the true papal cross so artisans are required to make slight alterations in replicas of the papal cross.
As you enter the main sanctuary you are immediately greated by the baptismal font and the pascal candle (also referred to as the Easter candle). The font was made by a local wood craftsman in Atlanta and the pascal candle holder from Mexico. The shape of the font and tile floor on which it stands are octagonal. The octagon shape of the baptismal font is an ancient symbol of the Church representing the "eighth day" of creation when we were created anew in Christ. Christ rose from the dead on the eighth day and we eat the bread on the eighth day.
At the front of the Church is the Altar, Ambo and Sacrament Table, which supports the Tabernacle, made in the same style as the Baptismal Font. The spiral legs which support each of these pieces are designed similar to the Papal Altar in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The quatrefoil design symbolized the cross and the circle which surrounds it represents eternity.
The for brass candle sticks which are at the four corners of the Altar are from Mexico. Four represents the four corners of the earth, encompassing the universality of the Church.
The brass Stations of the Cross which surround the congregation were acquired in Rome.
The San Damiano Crucifix behind the Altar was custom made The curcifix is a replica of the cross which spoke to St. Francis of Assisi and told him to "rebuild my Church", nearly 800 years. ago.
(to read complete description about the crucifix go to "About" tab and click on San Damiano Cross)
To the left of the Altar is relief of the Holy Family which was also specially handcrafted for St. Michael's in Italy. The Holy Family is the representation of the holiness of St. Michael's families.