St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
Liturgical Furnishings & Sacred Art, including Trinity Sculpture with Crucifix
Visalia, CA

Rohn Design led the liturgical design and development of all custom sacred and liturgical furnishings for St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Visalia, CA—now the largest Catholic parish church in North America. Created to unify four parish communities, the space blends Mission-style architecture with custom Renaissance-inspired liturgical artwork, including a monumental sanctuary mural, hand-painted church dome, and a custom Holy Trinity crucifix sculpture.

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Because of the church's unprecedented scale, every aspect of the worship environment required careful liturgical planning and coordination. Special attention was given to sanctuary layout, church lighting, and unobstructed sightlines to the altar and Reserved Eucharist, while the sloped floor presented unique design challenges.

 

Communion aisles and circulation patterns were strategically planned to support multiple Communion stations and the efficient movement of large congregations during Mass, while accessibility and worship participation remained key considerations.

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The 50-foot retablo mural depicts angels and saints facing the central Trinity crucifix, with San Joaquin Valley farmland and cattle below. The dome artwork depicts the Four Evangelists and their symbols, while four narthex paintings represent the four parish communities brought together at St. Charles Borromeo.

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The custom Catholic altar, ambo, tabernacle, tabernacle throne, and baptismal font are crafted from Cantera and Italian stone. The altar incorporates five crosses recalling Christ’s sacrifice, while the ambo features the Chi Rho and the Alpha and Omega. The baptismal font includes five crosses recalling Christ’s wounds. Together, these furnishings connect the church’s sacred art to the Eucharist and Baptism.

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At the center of the sanctuary, the custom Holy Trinity crucifix portrays Christ on the Cross with God the Father behind Him and the Holy Spirit above. Sized to be visible throughout the church, the seven-foot figure of Christ gives parishioners a powerful reminder of God’s presence and Christ’s sacrifice during Mass.

 

Download the full St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church project profile to explore the complete scope of work.

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Read about the custom sacred art and liturgical furnishings in Hyperallergic: The Art in America’s Largest Catholic Parish Church.

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Read about this Catholic sacred art in National Catholic Register: St. Charles Borromeo Church ‘Creates an Environment Which Makes You Think of the Eucharist’.

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