The current church of St. Clare of Assisi dates from 1965, though the parish was formed several years before. The congregation used the chapel of the adjacent Passionists nuns, who still exist next door until its own church was built.

As we have discussed lately, the church is similar to St. Martin de Porres in Hazelwood, though they are both distinct in appearance.

Of course, they are indebted to Le Corbusier’s masterpiece at Ronchamp.

It must be a sight to behold in a driving rainstorm and the water is pouring off the roof into the basin below (there’s a large drain inside, of course).

As is typical in Modernism, every component is separated out and emphasized, as can be seen in the bell above, in its own little cage atop the belfry.

The narthex, the fancy Latin term for lobby, was added later in 1997. Below, the fountain that also functions as a baptistry, which was a separate building in Italian cities, greets the visitor before heading into the sanctuary.

The roof curves upward, so at first when the visitor walks in, the ceiling is almost suffocating and seemingly right on top of your head.

But as you move towards the altar, the ceiling sweeps upward, representing the journey towards Christ, and the atmosphere becomes light and airy.

There’s a very nice wood crucifix.

There is also a very nice reproduction of Michelangelo’s 1499 Pietà. There is a bronze version in the New Cathedral, and I ran across one in Berlin and in Cincinnati’s cathedral.

Looking back from the front of the church you can see the doors towards the baptistry and narthex.