On June 2, Catholic University, the Archdiocese of Washington, and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, announced the winners of a contest to design the altar, chair, and ambo to be used by Pope Francis during the canonization Mass of Blessed Junípero Serra on Sept. 23. Members of the winning design team included architecture students Ariadne Cerritelli (Bethesda, Md.), Matthew Hoffman (Pittsburgh), and Joseph Taylor (Eldersburg, Md.). Numerous media outlets covered the announcement. See below.
From: Catholic News Agency Date: June 8, 2015 Author: Adelaide Mena
For most graduating college seniors, the final weeks of school focus on exams, saying goodbyes and looking to their next steps in life.But for three seniors studying architecture at The Catholic University of America, the final weeks of school presented the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to design the altar and chair for Pope Francis' historic trip to Washington, D.C. this fall."I still don't really believe it's going to happen," said recent Catholic University graduate Ariadne Cerritelli. "We never thought that we would win," she told EWTN News Nightly.Cerritelli and her teammates Matthew Hoffman and Joseph Taylor, also recent graduates of Catholic University, won a design contest that will put their creations at center stage for Pope Francis' first public Mass in the U.S.An altar, ambo and chair made according to their design will be used at the outdoor papal Mass on Sept. 23 on the east steps of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
From: Trib une-Review Date: June 6, 2015 Author: Natasha Lindstrom
When Pope Francis celebrates outdoor Mass in Washington this September, he'll be using a custom-made altar and papal chair designed by an architecture student from Western Pennsylvania.
Matthew Hoffman, 22, of Bethel Park took first place in a design competition at Catholic University's School of Architecture and Planning.
"I'm happy even if it just brings a little pride back to Pittsburgh," said Hoffman, 22.
"I'd like to think this is one more small connection, someone from Pittsburgh doing something for the pope, for the Vatican, that will be noticed."
The North Catholic High School graduate was on the three-man team whose simple, elegant designs won over a six-member jury of representatives from Catholic University, the Archdiocese of Washington and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
From: EWTN News NIghtly Date: June 5, 2015 Author: Jason Calvi
From: Architect Date: June 4, 2015 Author: Hallie Busta
When Pope Francis visits the nation's capital in September, he'll have a seat of his own. The Catholic University of America's (CUA's) School of Architecture and Planning recently held a student competition to design a chair-as well as other altar trappings-for the Catholic Church leader's Sept. 23 outdoor Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on the school's campus. The winning design was submitted by a team of three graduating seniors in the undergraduate architecture program-Ariadne Cerritelli, Matthew Hoffman, and Joseph Taylor-who together were awarded $6,000 from the competition. Participants were given two weeks to design all the pieces and to craft a scale model of one of them.
From: NBC4 Date: June 4, 2015 Author: Trey Sherman
A team of Catholic University of America (CUA) students have won the contest to design an altar Pope Francis will use at his outdoor Mass in Washington D.C. this fall.
The winning students will have a chance to see it used on their own campus when the pope celebrates Mass outdoors on the Basilica steps overlooking the Catholic University Mall on Sept. 23.
At an event Tuesday, the Archbishop of Washington publicly unveiled the altar's design, which features a simple high arch that mimics the architecture of the Romanesque-Byzantine style Basilica.
From: Catholic Standard (picked up by Catholic News Service) Date: June 2, 2015 Author: Zoey Di Mauro
Because the crowd of people who will gather at Pope Francis's open air Mass in Washington in September won't be able to experience the interior beauty of the Basilica of the National Shine of the Immaculate Conception during the Mass, the winning students of the altar design contest decided to bring the architecture of the grand church out to the people.
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From: The Washington Times Date: June 2, 2015 Author: Nate Madden
The Catholic University of America announced Tuesday that a trio of students has won its competition to design the altar on which Pope Francis will celebrate Mass during his visit to the nation's capital in September.
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