Onekama Stained-Glass Ministry Fuses Friendships and Faith
In the quaint town of Onekama, a meaningful spiritual practice has taken root within the Catholic community. The St. Joseph stained-glass ministry emerged from a desire to enhance the spiritual atmosphere and inspire a deeper connection to the faith. It is a story of collaboration, dedication and shared vision.
The idea for the stained-glass ministry can be traced back to the Finance Council's discussions on enhancing the buildings and grounds of the parish. Father Rubén Munoz, the pastor, expressed his wish to install stained-glass windows above the altar, providing a visible and thought-provoking symbol of God's presence to the community.
Two members of the council had witnessed the awe-inspiring work of Mark Vallee, a skilled stained-glass artist who had taught parishioners in his home parish, St. Stephen of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The Finance Council approached Mark, a summer resident of Onekama, to teach and mentor a team at St. Joseph. Mark, having witnessed the positive impact of stained glass on his home parish, readily agreed.
The project's announcement at St. Joseph and neighboring St. Raphael of Copemish attracted a diverse group of individuals interested in learning and participating in the stained-glass ministry.
With basic tools, supplies and glass in hand, the training classes began, guided by Mark and assisted by two experienced members from his home parish. Participants each created a small stained-glass window, experiencing the intricate process from start to finish. 
The success of this initial phase spurred the team to undertake creating windows for the Fellowship Hall, depicting significant events in the life of Christ. To date, the ministry has completed eight windows, and several more are under way.
While individual methods may vary slightly, the materials used remain consistent — colored and textured glass, copper foil wrap and silver-toned lead solder.
Mark Tanski, a ministry member with building trades experience, specializes in soldering the finished pieces together. He sees it as a way to give back and admits that he didn’t always make time to do so earlier in his life.
“I have a talent and I need to use it to help others who have different talents,” Mark shared. “Together, we can build something. While one person could do it alone, it would be more difficult and not as creative.”
Father Rubén not only appreciates the ministry but is a frequent participant as well.
Judi Petruska of St. Raphael says, “Stained-glass work reminds me of the Church itself. I mean, what can any of us do by ourselves? But together we can do something amazing.”
Having recently completed RCIA and hoping to do something to enrich her faith, Marlene Keeler of St. Raphael Parish says, “The stained-glass ministry is very satisfying. Everything about it feels good. I have found this to be very gratifying — a type of healing, in fact, to know that we don’t have to be perfect.”
The impact of the stained glass-making ministry has been significant. The windows in the Fellowship Hall have already captivated those who use the space.
Perhaps most importantly, the stained-glass ministry has fostered a strong sense of community among parishioners.
Bonnie Hyder of St. Raphael says, “This ministry has become a bridge between the two parishes and brought us together as a family. Even though our group is small, we reach out to others as well, and when we meet in another setting, we feel comfortable with one another.”
The journey has not been without its share of challenges.
Adapting to the absence of their mentor during the winter months pushed the team to learn by trial and error, reinforcing the value of perseverance and teamwork.
Financial concerns and the complexity of installing large windows remain ongoing hurdles, but the team has faith that God will provide solutions.
One early “failure” became a source of encouragement for the group. Janice Walters recalls: “Our first Christmas star window was too small — a mistake. So, we decided to include it in an auction and two bidders kept driving the price up. The couple that ended up with the artwork bought it for one another in lieu of Christmas gifts that year, and they are thrilled to have it.”
As ministry members advance in skill and confidence, they are planning to tackle some more advanced projects throughout the building. They hope to continue to convey Christ’s love and glorify God through the intertwining of faith and art.
The stained glass-making process involves several meticulous steps:
- Create a drawing to serve as the template for the design.
- Select glass from an array of colors and textures available.
- Shape glass through cutting and grinding to fit the pattern. (Many prayers are often uttered during this phase.)
- Add a copper foil border to each piece and assemble into a zinc frame.
- Apply lead solder to hold the pieces and the frame together, creating a cohesive artwork.
- Wash and polish to achieve its full brilliance.
