The Abbot’s Chair
At the head of the choir is the abbot’s chair, designated by a hand-painted plaque of the abbatial shield of Abbot Dane Radecki, O. Praem.
Virtual Tour
St. Norbert Abbey in De Pere, Wisconsin, is located on 160 acres of both natural and landscaped beauty—not only a distinguished landmark, but also home to the Norbertine community and a welcoming environment to those who wish to enhance their relationship with God.
The building is constructed of Wisconsin limestone, quarried in Fond du Lac. The stone trim is Indiana limestone. The roof is covered with slate, quarried in Pennsylvania and Vermont.
Church
Together the main stained glass windows in the St. Norbert Abbey church summarize the Liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church: the south clerestory windows depict (in symbolic form) the Liturgy of the Eucharist; the windows of the north clerestory depict the Liturgy of the Hours; and the Great West Window depicts the Trinity, along with St. Norbert, the Tree of Life, and seven rivulets of water symbolizing the seven Sacraments.
Four windows along the lower wall in the north nave represent the four evangelists and those in the south nave represent the four major Doctors of the Western Church.
Three panels in the south transept near the Marian Shrine contain symbolic images of the Virgin Mary. Intertwined fish suggest her role as Mother of Jesus in the dual natures in her Son; a large lily, her Immaculate Conception; and triple crowns, as Queen of Heaven. Three panels in the north transept near the Blessed Sacrament Chapel suggest the Last Supper, Adoration of the Eucharist, and the Eucharist as Sacrifice.
The Altar
In the center of the sanctuary stands the altar, made of Botticino marble with Red Levanto supports.
The Choir Stalls
The stalls of the choir and the pews in the nave are fashioned of black walnut. The interior walls of the church are faced with a variety of types of marble: the lower walls are veneered with Loredo Chiro in a matchbook pattern, the columns are faced with Red Levanto, and the upper walls are surfaced with unfinished Winona Travertine. The floors of the church’s nave and vestibule are slate. The floors of the sanctuary and choir are Verde Issorie marble.
