Last Updated 02/16/21
Welcome to St Pat's and St Rose!
My name is Tom Gahler and I have been in charge of the Environment Committee at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in St Paul, MN since the late 1990's (don't really recall exactly when the baton was handed off to me.) I inherited a tradition that has been a part of the parish since long before I was born. Architecturally, St Pat's is a typical, minimalist church design from the mid 1960's. To take the place of ornate paintings and woodwork many older church buildings have, a group of parishioners began to use flowers, plants, and cloth banners to beautify the space for each season of the Liturgical Year. Today, I proudly carry this strong tradition on. I have a personal goal, to never use the same design twice. Each season, each year the church has a fresh look enhancing our worship space.
In the mid teens life began pulling me away from the Eastside and out towards Roseville where I became a part of St Rose of Lima's parish. I began assisting them with their art and environment to simply get my foot in the door for the future. Little did I know the future was now, and due to some unfortunate health issues with the two women whom had led their Art and Environment for many years, I was thrust into a leadership and design role there as well. It's opened the door to new challenges and new creativity with a new parish and a new worship space.
This site is a public archive of the many past designs that I and, and in some cases, my predecessors created. Designs are archived by Liturgical year. Feel free to look around this site and to contact me If you have any comments, questions, or concerns. Also, if you happen to have a photo of St Pat's or St Rose from a wedding, first communion, or whatever, that shows the sanctuary design, please scan it and email that to me as well so it can be added to this archive. I'll be slowly uploading all the previous years designs newest to oldest. Thank you for visiting!
In the mid teens life began pulling me away from the Eastside and out towards Roseville where I became a part of St Rose of Lima's parish. I began assisting them with their art and environment to simply get my foot in the door for the future. Little did I know the future was now, and due to some unfortunate health issues with the two women whom had led their Art and Environment for many years, I was thrust into a leadership and design role there as well. It's opened the door to new challenges and new creativity with a new parish and a new worship space.
This site is a public archive of the many past designs that I and, and in some cases, my predecessors created. Designs are archived by Liturgical year. Feel free to look around this site and to contact me If you have any comments, questions, or concerns. Also, if you happen to have a photo of St Pat's or St Rose from a wedding, first communion, or whatever, that shows the sanctuary design, please scan it and email that to me as well so it can be added to this archive. I'll be slowly uploading all the previous years designs newest to oldest. Thank you for visiting!