The Side Altars

The following information is from the book, "Holy Family Parish: Priests and People" by Br. Thomas M. Mulkerins S.J. published in 1923.

The side altars were erected in 1873. They are constructed on the same lines as the main altar, and reach from the floor of the sanctuary to the ceiling. Each has three Gothic turrets, two small ones on the sides, with the principal one at the top. There are two statues at the base of each, with one on top. The top statue of the Blessed Virgin's altar is a masterpiece, repre­senting Our Lady of Lourdes. It was carved by Mr. Sebastian Buscher. The two lower statues, on the same altar, those of Sts. Aloysius and John Berch­mans, are imported and are of papier-mache. The picture, representing the Immacu­late Conception, was painted in the United States. Underneath the table of the altar of the Blessed Virgin, there is a beautifully carved rep­resentation of the Annunciation and the Visitation, also carved by Sebastian Buscher. The tabernacle is of fine polished brass, gold plated, and was supplied by Rev. Thomas Sherman, S. J., during his directorship of the League of the Sacred Heart, about 1900. 

St. Joseph 's altar is constructed on the same style as the altar of the Blessed Virgin. On the lower half is a picture representing St. Charles Borrmeo administering Holy Communion to St. Aloysius; overhead a picture of St. Joseph with a lily in his right hand and holding in his arms the child Jesus surrounded with a cloud of glory.  At the base, on either side, are statues of St. Aloysius holding a cruci­fix in his hand, and St. Stanislaus holding the infant Jesus in his arms. Above, in a niche, is the statue of St. Joseph with the child Jesus in his arms. There is a beautifully carved tabernacle below, and under the table of the altar are carved representations of the flight into Egypt and the Holy Family in the carpenter shop at Nazareth, with a monogram in the center, also carved by Sebastian Buscher.