PALLIUM WINDOW

In the south wall of the Basilica, above the organ gallery, stands the most historically impressive of the stained glass windows - the Pallium Window - erected to commemorate the establishment of the Ecclesiastical Province of Newfoundland and the conferring of the Pallium on Archbishop Michael Francis Howley on June 23, 1905.

Howley was the first native-born Roman Catholic Archbishop of Newfoundland.

At the very top of the stained Glass we have St. Agnes.

St. Agnes, virgin and martyr, was one of the most famous martyrs of Rome. Because of the similarity of her name to the Latin for "lamb" (agnus), the lamb has been St. Agnes' symbol since the 6th century. In Rome on her feast day two lambs are blessed, and the wool from these lambs is used in making the Pallium, the symbols archbishops wear as signs of their authority.

The picture represents three Newfoundland bishops, vested in full pontifical.

The central figure, wearing the Pallium, is Archbishop Michael Francis Howley of St. John's.

On the Archbishop's right is Bishop Ronald McDonald of Harbour Grace, (now Grand Falls Diocese) Newfoundland, who conferred the Pallium.

At the Archbishop's left is Bishop Neil McNeil of St. George's, (now Labrador - Corner Brook Diocese) Newfoundland.

There are over twenty-five figures in the window, including clergymen, dignitaries, altar boys, cross-bearers, etc.

Among those recognizable are:

Reverend William Born, and Reverend Richard Donnelly, the assistant deacons,

Monsignor John Walsh, Vicar General, from Brigus

Monsignor Vincent Reardon, Parish Priest of Placentia

Reverend William Doutney

Reverend John St. John

Reverend McDermott

Reverend Dr. Kitchen.

The outlines of the High Altar, brilliantly illuminated and decked with banners and flowers, form the background.

In the foreground are represented the Official Ecclesiastical Notary, holding the Act of the Investiture, with other officials.

The artist (Louis Koch) has introduced himself and family as representing the Congregation.

The outline of the High Altar forms the background, and an inscription across the window reads, in translation, "Commemorative of the Conferring of the Pallium, June 23, 1905."

This particular window has very personal connections with the parishioners of the Basilica Cathedral Parish. Some of the characters - the altar boys, cross bearers, etc. - took great pride in later years - pointing out their likeness in the windows to their friends and relatives.

The lower three panels feature the coat of arms for each of the dioceses in Newfoundland:

The Coat of Arms of the Diocese of Harbour Grace

The Coast of Arms of the Archdiocese of St. John's

The Coat of Arms of the Diocese of St. George's

The scene was recreated from a photograph by the artist M. Louis Koch of Beauvais, France.

The Window is presented by the Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM's).

The Society is the oldest women's group in the parish. Most of the funding to restore the windows was given by the BVM's

From 1987-2006 the window was removed and placed in storage to protect it from damage while restoration was being completed on the Basilica.

The Pallium is a narrow circular band of white wool about two inches wide, with two 12 inch pendants of the same material which hang, one over the front and one over the back of the wearer. Six black crosses are embroidered on the Pallium, one each on the front and back, one on each shoulder, and one on each pendant. The Pallium is specially woven in Rome from lamb's wool, which has been blessed. The lambs symbolize Christ as the Lamb of God, and the Good Shepherd. The wearing of the Pallium is significant to the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan in his ecclesiastical province and is a sign of his union with the See of Peter. The Pope, or his representative, upon the Archbishop, bestows the Pallium. On an Archbishop's death, the Pallium is interred with him.

The stained glass windows to the east and west of the Pallium window depict St. Peter (east window) and St. Paul (west window).