Welcome to Arts & Environment 

July 2026

This spotlight focuses on offering a better understanding of the purpose and efforts of Arts & Environment.

What is Arts & Environment?

The importance of the beauty, quality and appropriateness of the place where the liturgy is celebrated. It is the intentional focus on the physical setting, sacred objects, and visual elements—such as flowers, banners, and architecture—that shape a worship space to help the community prayerfully celebrate the liturgy.

Our mission: Arts & Environment: Intentionally simplistic. Liturgically focused. Allowing each of us to create our own amazing connection with God.

We focus on the visual and tangible aspects of the celebration and the sacred rites and ensure the proper articles and materials are used. We work in conjunction with the liturgy committee to further inspire liturgical awareness and understanding. We plan how the visual arts (flowers, banners and seasonal ornamentation) can appropriately be used in a secondary way to enhance the liturgical celebration. We assure the general liturgical environment, including the arrangement of space, furnishings, lighting, permanent decorations, etc., corresponds to the aesthetic and ritual vision found in the church’s liturgical resources.

We are sensitive to the nature of the church building primarily as the place for the liturgical community’s ritual celebrations and secondarily as a place of private reflection and prayer. We are respectful of the special architecture of the church concerning the displays we create.

Through the special efforts of previous members of Arts and Environment we have been blessed with many beautiful banners and artwork that provide wonderful visual inspirations for our various celebrations. We are so grateful for everyone that has invested their time and talent to allow parishioners to appreciate our liturgy in so many magnificent and motivational ways.

One of the most beautiful things to share about Arts & Environment is about the materials used in our displays. Many of the arrangements you see throughout the warmer seasons come not only from the grounds of St. Thomas Aquinas but also from the lovely gardens of several parishioners. We are ever so grateful for the gifts we receive and are able to share with the parish.

 

We have a wonderful committee of diverse and dynamic parishioners that help in creating all of the dynamic displays you see throughout the year. Collectively we combine ideas, energy and effort to help ourselves and all of you become further enlightened about our faith. We always welcome additional committee members. Do you have ideas, energy and a desire to help create displays that inspire our liturgical awareness? Come be a part of this ministry. There are no regular meetings. Help when you can. Share ideas when inspired. Be a helping hand setting up our larger celebrations. It’s a fun and enjoyable way to become further enlightened about our faith.

Please contact Michael Davis if you have interest in joining Arts & Environment. Email dmichaeldavis8@gmail.com

Thank you for the opportunity to share Arts & Environment with you.

Our prayer:

Together may we be blessed with open hearts, creative minds and sincere desire. May God work through us to continually enhance the physical beauty of our parish thereby constantly fostering a focus on the Spirit of God’s Word and His Will for us all.

ARTS AND ENVIRONMENT

INTENTIONALLY SIMPLISTIC.  LITURGICALLY FOCUSED.

ALLOWING EACH OF US TO DESIGN OUR OWN

AMAZING CONNECTION WITH GOD.