Design Development drawing set

Continued Design Development drawing set for the Mud Brick Labyrinth

Foundation Plan + Drainage Diagram

New Labyrinth Design

click on images to enlarge

New Labyrinth Sketch

The new labyrinth design maintains the original premise, but with a few modifications:

• The end of each of the four series now returns you to the center of the labyrinth, rather than having an exit at the perimeter.
• At the center of the labyrinth, there are two view platforms that are accessed via stairs sandwiched between the first two concentric walls from the center chapel.
• The labyrinth is approximately 135 feet in diameter. The straw version constructed for the fiesta was 118 feet in diamter.
• We are creating 4 different processional experiences with no dead ends and equal spacing between each mystery to create a steady rhythm during the journey.
  

Valley Courier Article

Here is a link to the Valley Courier article about El Santuario de los Pobladores.

More Etchings

   

   

Altar Front

Hay Labyrinth Under Construction

Model Under Construction

Model of El Santuario de los Pobladores

Laser Etching Examples

panel

detail

Temporary Furniture

Ambo

laser etchings for abo

altar

laser etchings for altar

Hay Labyrinth

Pink Indicates locations of Mystery Chapels

Items to Appear on Presentation Boards

1. Parish Statement (Mission Statement)
   
2. Nicam Mopohua
   
3. Santuario Mission Statement
   
4. Information About Labyrinth (history, origins, relationship to christianity)
   
5. Information About El Santuario de los Pobladores
   
6. 150 Year Celebration
   
7. Emblem
   
8. Information about the Mysteries of the Rosary
   
9. Names of All the Priests 
   
10. Names and Locations of All Missions
    

Hay Labyrinth Schedule

• June 25: Hay is located
  
• June 27: Hay delivered to site
  
• June 28: Site preparation. Bring rakes and gloves. 8:00 am
  
• June 30: Presentation at Parish Hall. 8:00 pm
  
• July 7: Final presentation boards ready for laser etching
  
• July 9: Layout of labyrinth begins
  
• July 11-12: Staking of bales begins
  
• July 18-20: Fiesta
  
• 
  
• August 7: Bid drawings of footings/foundations prepared for contractors
  

Thoughts on the Christian Labyrinth

The Prayer Labyrinth was adopted by the Catholic Church across Europe during the medieval times, being often used as a means to meditate, pray and connect with God in a higher spiritual way. Numerous cathedrals in Europe have prayer labyrinths embedded into their floors, with the Cathedral of Chartres, located about 80 km from Paris having one of the most famous prayer labyrinths in the world. Prayer Labyrinths were often viewed and modeled as a journey to Jerusalem, serving as a spiritual pilgrimage for those who could not afford to travel to there.

The widest accepted Prayer Labyrinth in the Church was the eleven-circuit labyrinth, which is more symbolic of Christ's cross with its four quadrants, and grace being symbolized by the never-ending path to the center and back, allowing the pilgrim to walk the path at his own pace, stop for prayer and meditation as needed.

The Prayer Labyrinth is not a maze and rather has one path on which one cannot get lost, serving a powerful symbol of individual life journeys and pilgrimage in faith.

A Catholic writer describes their spiritual significance in this way:

"The labyrinth is a universal symbol for the world, with its complications and difficulties, which we experience on our journey through life. The entry to the labyrinth is birth; the center is death and eternal life. In Christian terms, the thread that leads us through life is divine grace. Like any pilgrimage, the labyrinth represents the inner pilgrimage we are called to make to take us to the center of our being."

Final Hay Labyrinth for Fiesta

Hay labyrinth requires 828 - 900 bales.

Temporary wood furniture will be fabricated for the fiesta (altar, abo and chair). Furniture will also serve as displays that discuss the Santuario project and contain images and text that can be used elsewhere for presentation and fund raising.

Entry to labyrinth

Concrete Altar, Abo and Chair

Concrete Altar

The concrete altar will have the altar cloth pattern etched into the faces of the altar.

Adobe Altar

June 5, 2008 Construction related notes

• Demetrio Valdez has agreed to donate gravel for the fiesta.
• Demetrio Valdez has sourced a 3$ bale of hay instead of straw. Demetrio Valdez will take the hay after the fiesta and give credit for an equal amount in adobes.
  
• Demetrio Valdez will supply Rael San Fratello with hay bale dimensions.
• Demetrio Valdez will require 2 persons to help him haul the hay bales.
• Ronald and Demetrio will stake out the area for the labyrinth on Friday June 6 at 8 AM
• The concrete altar with a sandblasted or acid etched pattern of an altar cloth was approved for construction.
  
• Ronald will contact Steve Perea, Mike Sanchez and the Gray's to see if they would be able to construct the concrete altar.
• The church would like to see all three pieces, the altar, the pulpit and the chair constructed for the fiesta.
• There should be some text on the pulpit or the altar that acknowledges the 150 celebration.
• The pulpit and altar should have sleeves for future electricity lines.
  

Round and Square Labyrinths

Round Labyrinth

Plan

Entrance

Entrance to Mysteries of the Rosary Procession

Exit

Labyrinth

Red indicates Memorial Wall

Interior of Chapel

Red indicates Mysteries Nichos

View of Nicho from above

Labyrinth Path 1

Labyrinth Path 2

Labyrinth Path 3

Labyrinth Path 4