The Sanctuary
The main altar is dedicated to Saint Ann, our patroness. The altar, rising to a height of thirty-two feet, is completely doweled. It is adorned with 153 lights. Eight angels minister at the altar: various cherubs and seraphs, and the archangels Michael and Raphael. Six saints are represented in the altar: Saints Ignatius Loyola, Joachim, and Francis Xavier are on the viewer’s left, and Saints Aloysius Gonzaga, Ann and Stanislaus Kostka are on the right. Five relief’s adorn the front of the altar: The Pascal Lamb, Abraham’s Sacrifice, The Last Supper, The Offering of Bread and Wine by Melchisedech, and The Manna of the Desert. There are five oil paintings behind the main altar. This altar has four high relief’s: The Marriage of Joseph and Mary, The Flight into Egypt, Joseph Teaches Jesus Carpentry, and The Holy Death of Joseph. The relief below the altar is the Angel of God Enlightening Joseph. A cross from El Salvador, which was donated in recognition of the aid Salvadorans have received in Buffalo on their journey to safety in Canada, has been placed before a main pillar of the church. A painting of North American
Martyrs and a statue of Saint Francis Xavier complete the area.
The altar to the Blessed Virgin Mary is to the east of the main altar. The statue of Mary is at the center of the altar, with Saint Cecilia on the left and Saint Rose of Lima on the right. Below the altar is a relief of the Annunciation. Various images of the Madonna and Child adorn this area. The baptismal font, with a statue depicting Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist, completes the area.
The stained glass windows near the Blessed Mother’s altar depict Saints Catharine of Austria and Elizabeth of Hungary. The picture in the blind window near Saint Joseph’s altar represents the eight Jesuit Martyrs of North America: Isaac Jogues, Rene Goupil, John Lalande, John de Brebeuf, Gabriel Lalemant, Anthony Daniel, Charles Gamier, and Noel Chabanel.
The two oil paintings high above on either side altar are entitled The Foundation of the Church and The Foundation of the Jesuits.
The Choir Loft
The choir loft was originally supported by open-area pillars. The Infants’ (Reconciliation) and Ushers’ rooms below were added later. The organ was built by Johnson and Son of Westfield, MA, and was their op. 679 of 1887. The pipes (except for the ones in the case) were sold in 1969. Statues of Saints Boniface, patron of Germany, and Cecilia, patroness of music, complete the choir loft.