Rear Elevation of the Mary, Mother of Priests Chapel, Jemez Springs

Description

A straight-on, vertical view of the back of the Mary, Mother of Priests Chapel at the Servants of the Paraclete complex in Jemez Springs, New Mexico.

The image highlights:

The Stone Gable: The upper portion of the sanctuary wall features a large, inset fieldstone panel. This exterior masonry mirrors the rustic stone textures found inside the chapel behind the main altar.

Symbolic Crown: A simple, white Latin cross is mounted at the peak of the shallow-pitched roof, silhouetted against the bright, high-desert sky.

Architectural Brutalism & Modernism: The building’s clean, functional lines are emphasized by the smooth, grey-stuccoed lower wall and the thick vertical buttresses that frame the stone section.

Functional Elements: The lower wall contains two louvered vents and external plumbing fixtures, reminding the viewer that this modernist structure serves as a fully functional facility for the retreat center.

The "Viga" Ends: The dark ends of the interior ceiling beams project from the sides of the stone section, a signature detail of the chapel's Southwest-Modernist fusion.