St. Mary's Basilica, Phoenix, AZ

In 2009, we visited Arizona.  The main purpose of our trip was to see the Grand Canyon, but we saw much more than that!  We flew into Phoenix and saw a Diamondbacks game before heading up to our cabin in Flagstaff.  The afternoon before the game was spent exploring the downtown area.  One of the places we visited was St. Mary's Basilica.  It was beautiful!

 

This picture doesn't do the outside justice, but I couldn't get far enough back on the crowded street to capture the whole thing.

 

 

Inside....

 

One of the stained glass windows.  I LOVE stained glass windows!

 

The confessional...



 

Their stations of the cross were some of the most beautiful I've ever seen.  I think I have the same fascination with stations of the cross as I do with stained glass windows!  I think it's because there's just such variety in them that I never get tired of looking at various ones.



The particular day we were there was Phoenix's first 100 degree day of the year.  (Lucky us!)  It was really hot!  When we parked in the lot behind the church we noticed a table with a cooler of water on it.  We wondered what it was for.  When we walked around to the front of the church we figured it out.  Apparently, several of Phoenix's homeless like to take refuge from the heat on the church grounds in the shade of the church and trees.  We figured the water must be for them.  A good example of doing for Jesus by doing for the least of his people.

If you want to visit St. Mary's or find out more about it here is their website:  St. Mary's Basilica