Bethesda, MD
October 2025
New Stained Glass Windows
About the Church
St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church serves the Bethesda, Maryland, community through worship, education, and service. The church’s sacred art reflects its Catholic heritage and provides meaningful visual representations of faith, history, and the lives of the saints.
Our Work
Willet Studios was honored to design, fabricate, and install a new stained glass triptych in the church chancel, along with a collection of 12 saint windows and an additional St. Michael the Archangel window in the cry room.
Chancel Triptych
The new stained glass triptych was designed specifically for the church’s chancel, with the composition, colors, figures, and architectural details developed to complement the sacred setting.
The window was fabricated by Willet Studios and installed in the church as a permanent work of sacred art.
The Twelve Saints
The accompanying collection of 12 windows represents a diverse group of saints, blessed individuals, and servants of God, each portrayed with distinctive attributes connected to their life and ministry.
W1 — St. Martin of Tours
A cavalry officer in the late Roman Empire who is remembered for cutting his cloak in half to clothe a beggar. His torn cloak is incorporated into the design as a reference to this well-known act of charity.
W2 — St. Louis of France
Shown holding the Crown of Thorns, which he recovered from the Holy Land and brought to France.
W3 — St. Joan of Arc
Depicted holding her distinctive white banner, which she carried into battle.
W4 — St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Known as “The Little Flower,” St. Thérèse is shown holding a rose, one of her most recognizable attributes.
W5 — Servant of God Emil Kapaun
A priest and Army chaplain who served during World War II and the Korean War. He was a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor and died in a Chinese prison camp. He is shown holding half of his pipe, referencing the story of the pipe being shot from his mouth. His chaplain’s helmet rests on the balustrade.
W6 — Servant of God Augustus Tolton
The first Black Catholic priest in the United States, Father Tolton established a Black national parish in Chicago. He is depicted wearing period vestments, including an alb, stole, chasuble, and maniple appropriate to his ministry as a priest.
W7 — Servant of God Mary Virginia Merrick
Paralyzed after a fall at a young age, Mary Virginia Merrick went on to establish the Christ Child Society, which provided assistance to children in need. She is depicted with white hair while retaining younger, middle-aged facial features.
W8 — Blessed Stanley Rother
A priest and martyr who served in Guatemala and was killed for standing with his flock. His window honors his dedication to the people he served.
W9 — St. Kateri Tekakwitha
An Algonquin-Mohawk convert to Christianity, St. Kateri is remembered for her devotion and faith and is the first Native American saint recognized by the Catholic Church.
W10 — St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Known for her work as an educator and for founding schools, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton played an important role in the development of Catholic education in the United States.
W11 — St. Jane Frances de Chantal
A baroness who later entered religious life, St. Jane Frances de Chantal is depicted inviting the viewer to join the procession, creating a visual connection between the saint and the congregation.
W12 — Open Niche
The final position in the series remains an open niche, providing an intentional architectural pause within the collection.
St. Michael the Archangel
The project also included a new stained glass window of St. Michael the Archangel for the church’s cry room. Depicted as the protector and defender of the faithful, St. Michael provides a fitting presence within this space dedicated to young members of the congregation and their families.
This additional window extends the project’s program of sacred art beyond the chancel and saint series, bringing the same thoughtful design and craftsmanship into another area of the church.
A Collection of Faith & Storytelling
Together, the triptych and collection of saint windows create a cohesive program of sacred art within St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church.
Each figure was designed with identifying attributes that tell part of their story, allowing the windows to serve not only as works of art, but also as visual representations of faith, history, sacrifice, service, and devotion.
From the detailed attributes of each saint to the larger composition of the chancel triptych, the project reflects Willet Studios’ commitment to creating custom stained glass that is deeply connected to the communities and spaces it serves.
Resource
St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church: stjanedechantal.org
