Richard S. Vosko
Encyclopedia
Richard S. Vosko is a liturgical design consultant and priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
who has overseen the redesign and renovation of numerous churches and cathedrals around the country. Vosko has worked throughout the U.S. and Canada as a designer and consultant for worship environments since 1970. He is the author of God's House Is Our House: Re-imagining the Environment for Worship (Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 2006) and Designing Worship Spaces: The Mystery of a Common Vision (Meeting House Essay #8) (Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 1996).
Vosko states that today's cathedrals should "resonate" with the makeup of the diocese they serve." The role of the cathedral in today's society is different from the times that came before. "The vision of 150 years ago had to do with a reflection of their own understanding of the Church and its liturgy." They were churches "designed to house a liturgy of a different age and genre -- a different, pre-Vatican II understanding of what liturgy is." Since then, the Church in America, originally conceived as a missionary country, has shed that identity by having more than 70 million members. "The reasons for retaining and building our churches have changed."
Vosko's perspective draws heavily from Environment and Art in Catholic Worship (EACW), a 1978 document drawn up by a standing committee of the Bishops Committee of the Liturgy of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
(USCCB). Although the EACW was never voted on by the full body of bishops and does not carry the force of law, it was used as the standard for new church design and renovation for over 20 years. EACW’s status has been controversial since its inception not only due to its canonical standing but also its content. EACW uses as a basis the Second Vatican Council
’s emphasis on Christ’s presence in the assembly celebrating mass and - in what some consider a stretch - shifts the basis for the design of the “liturgical environment” to the “the action of the assembly” of believers rather than the principles from liturgy, theology, or architecture. The EACW states: "Among the symbols with which liturgy deals, none is more important than this assembly of believers." Vosko states that the "new focus on the assembly" comes from the "recovered role of the people of God during acts of worship and not because of any subversive movement to discount the presence of God in the church." In Vosko's opinion, it is the assembly, not the church building, which must "transcend the ordinary."
In 2000, the EACW was replaced by Built of Living Stones: Art, Architecture, and Worship (BLS). The BLS has been voted on and approved by the USCCB. Vosko has been a critic of this new document.
Vosko church designs and renovations emphasize:
Vosko has presided over renovations or contributed to the design of the following cathedrals:
Some have branded his church renovations as wreckovations
due to what they see as the imposition of a non-traditional re-alignment of essential church elements and the stripping of iconography. Architect Micahael Rose accuses Vosko of being a "liturgy deconstructionist."
Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany covers all or part of 14 counties in Eastern New York...
who has overseen the redesign and renovation of numerous churches and cathedrals around the country. Vosko has worked throughout the U.S. and Canada as a designer and consultant for worship environments since 1970. He is the author of God's House Is Our House: Re-imagining the Environment for Worship (Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 2006) and Designing Worship Spaces: The Mystery of a Common Vision (Meeting House Essay #8) (Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 1996).
Vosko states that today's cathedrals should "resonate" with the makeup of the diocese they serve." The role of the cathedral in today's society is different from the times that came before. "The vision of 150 years ago had to do with a reflection of their own understanding of the Church and its liturgy." They were churches "designed to house a liturgy of a different age and genre -- a different, pre-Vatican II understanding of what liturgy is." Since then, the Church in America, originally conceived as a missionary country, has shed that identity by having more than 70 million members. "The reasons for retaining and building our churches have changed."
Vosko's perspective draws heavily from Environment and Art in Catholic Worship (EACW), a 1978 document drawn up by a standing committee of the Bishops Committee of the Liturgy of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
(USCCB). Although the EACW was never voted on by the full body of bishops and does not carry the force of law, it was used as the standard for new church design and renovation for over 20 years. EACW’s status has been controversial since its inception not only due to its canonical standing but also its content. EACW uses as a basis the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
’s emphasis on Christ’s presence in the assembly celebrating mass and - in what some consider a stretch - shifts the basis for the design of the “liturgical environment” to the “the action of the assembly” of believers rather than the principles from liturgy, theology, or architecture. The EACW states: "Among the symbols with which liturgy deals, none is more important than this assembly of believers." Vosko states that the "new focus on the assembly" comes from the "recovered role of the people of God during acts of worship and not because of any subversive movement to discount the presence of God in the church." In Vosko's opinion, it is the assembly, not the church building, which must "transcend the ordinary."
In 2000, the EACW was replaced by Built of Living Stones: Art, Architecture, and Worship (BLS). The BLS has been voted on and approved by the USCCB. Vosko has been a critic of this new document.
Vosko church designs and renovations emphasize:
- the Visual - Improved lighting and sound so as to allow all to see and hear the actions of the priest. This often includes moving the organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
from the choirChoirA choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
to the position directly behind the altarAltar (Catholicism)In the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church, the altar is where the Sacrifice of the Mass is offered. Mass may sometimes be celebrated outside a sacred place, but never without an altar, or at least an altar stone.-Precedent:...
. - Participation - As every worshiper is called to participate in the EucharistEucharistThe Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
, the altar is relocated as far forward as possible often to the center of the church so the priest is part of the assembly. This also improves sight lines. Items such as altar rails and pulpitPulpitPulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
s are removed as they inhibit the sense of participation. Worshipers should be arranged around the altar so they can see each other. The baptismal fontBaptismal fontA baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
is generally moved into the assembly and includes full immersion capabability. - the "Horizontal" - Traditional "vertical" churches orient in one direction treating God as transcendent whereas more ascetic "horizontal" churches emphasize God's presence in and with the community.
- Symbolism and Simplicity over Ornamentation - Noble simplicity is better than sumptuous display which only distracts from the actions of the priest during mass. Elaborate reredos behind the altar, baldachinos, and excessive statuary are generally removed.
- the Imagination - As the community changes, the church needs to adapt to new art, music, language, and ritual practices
- Flexibility - Church pews are often removed and replaced with chairs to allow the church to be used for other functions.
- Other - The tabernacleChurch tabernacleA tabernacle is the fixed, locked box in which, in some Christian churches, the Eucharist is "reserved" . A less obvious container, set into the wall, is called an aumbry....
is typically moved into a separate chapel away from the main church to allow for private eucharistic adorationEucharistic adorationEucharistic adoration is a practice in the Roman Catholic Church, and in a few Anglican and Lutheran churches, in which the Blessed Sacrament is exposed to and adored by the faithful....
. Private confessionals are removed and replaced by face-to-face confessional rooms.
Vosko has presided over renovations or contributed to the design of the following cathedrals:
- Sacred Heart Cathedral (Rochester)Sacred Heart Cathedral (Rochester)The Sacred Heart Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Rochester, New York, USA. The recently renovated Cathedral is Mother Church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester and seat of the diocesan bishop, as well as home to a parish community. The present parish is known as the Cathedral...
- Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
- Cathedral of Our Lady of the AngelsCathedral of Our Lady of the AngelsThe Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, also called "COLA" and the Los Angeles Cathedral, is a cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church in Los Angeles, California, United States...
in Los Angeles - St. James Cathedral in Seattle
- Cathedral of San FernandoCathedral of San FernandoThe Cathedral of San Fernando is a cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church located in San Antonio, Texas, in the United States. It is the mother church of the Archdiocese of San Antonio and the seat of its archbishop. The cathedral is also known as the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria y...
in San Antonio - Cathedral of the Incarnation (Nashville)Cathedral of the Incarnation (Nashville)The Cathedral of the Incarnation, located at 2015 West End Avenue in Nashville, Tennessee, is the cathedral seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nashville....
- Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Memphis, Tennessee)Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Memphis, Tennessee)The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a Catholic cathedral in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. It is the seat of the Diocese of Memphis. -Immaculate Conception Parish:...
Some have branded his church renovations as wreckovations
Wreckovation
Wreckovation is a portmanteau term coined by some Catholics to describe the controversial style of renovations which historic Catholic cathedrals, churches, and oratories have undergone since the Second Vatican Council...
due to what they see as the imposition of a non-traditional re-alignment of essential church elements and the stripping of iconography. Architect Micahael Rose accuses Vosko of being a "liturgy deconstructionist."