In 2024, Rugo Stone, in partnership with Franck & Lohsen Architects, undertook a project at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Washington, D.C. which saw the renovation of the church's sanctuary with new Italian marble appointments, and further work involving cleaning and restoration of existing appointments.
From Rugo Stone:
Established in 1794, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church is the oldest Catholic parish in Washington, DC, and a treasured spiritual landmark in the heart of the nation’s capital. In September 2024, the church underwent a transformative sanctuary renovation requiring both technical precision and deep respect for liturgical tradition. Rugo Stone was entrusted with this complex project, bringing decades of expertise in ecclesiastical stonework and historic preservation.The project included the design, fabrication, and installation of a new Bianco Carrara marble sanctuary platform, sourced directly from Italy... The renovation also involved raising and reinstalling the ambo, fabricating a new mensa top for the tabernacle, restoring and reinstalling two carved marble bas reliefs, and conserving the Last Supper carving with detailed cleaning, repairs, and 3D scanning for precise integration.One of the highlights was the creation of a new marble statue of St. Monica, developed in collaboration with Italian artisans. Starting from a full-scale clay model, the statue was CNC-carved from Carrara C marble and then hand-finished to capture lifelike expression and intricate drapery...The completed sanctuary blends historical reverence with thoughtful liturgical enhancements, ensuring St. Patrick’s remains a place of enduring beauty and worship for generations to come.
Let's take a look at the fruits of their labours.
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| The new marble predella / platform |
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| The cleaned and restored scene of the Last Supper on the main altar |
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| The newly raised and reinstalled ambo |
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| The tabernacle and the two restored marble bas reliefs found on the reredos. These two reliefs are Eucharistic in their imagery. |
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| On the one relief we find an image of the priest Melchizidek offering bread and wine |
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| On the second panel, we see the manna come down from heaven. |
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| The new statue of St. Monica |
If you are interested in learning more about the work of Rugo Stone, we would invite you to visit their website or to find them on social media.
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