Mary
The mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ stands to the left of the tabernacle in the sanctuary. Specifically, it is Mary depicted in her bodily assumption into heaven. The reason for this is to remind us in our day and age of the dignity and the destiny of every human body, a dignity that is unfortunately often tramped upon in abortion, pornography, poverty and countless other offenses.
Joseph
To the right of the tabernacle stands the foster father of Jesus, the one known as “the guardian of the Redeemer.” Joseph the worker is depicted in this statue, to remind us all of the dignity of human work.
St. Peter
Peter and Andrew were brothers, and among the first of the disciples. Peter is the one closest to St. Joseph and is depicted holding the keys of the kingdom of heaven, a symbol of the authority (not power) that Jesus entrusted to him and his successors to guide us in all truth.
St. Andrew
Andrew stands to the right of Peter holding a cross, a symbol of his martyrdom.
St. John
John and James were also brothers, and partners of Peter and Andrew in a fishing co-op. John stands closest to Mary and is shown with the Gospel that he wrote, and a figure of an eagle, meant to show the high and lofty perspective he offers us in his Gospel of the identity of Jesus.
St. James
James, the brother of John, is depicted in the dress of a pilgrim from the middle ages, to represent the fact that his burial place in Spain (Campostella) was and is a frequent destiny of pilgrims in Europe.
St. Matthew
The apostle Matthew stands just before the cry room. He, too, wrote a Gospel and thus stands holding it. Matthew had been a tax collector before Jesus called him to follow, and thus he who once lived for the pursuit of worldly gain and riches reminds us that the true pearl of great price is Jesus, for whom he left behind his old life.
St. Therese of Liseux
St. Therese stands next to Matthew. She is a more recent saint, having died in 1897. Therese is also known as “the little flower,” and is depicted holding roses, a gift she frequently sends from heaven to those who ask for her prayers. She is also the patroness of missions, thus reminding us all of the call we received in our baptism to bring the Gospel into the world in which we live.
St. Mary Magdalene
This great woman, from whom Jesus drove out seven demons, and who was the first to witness the resurrection and is known as “the apostle to the apostles,” is also the model penitent. She stands holding an urn, reminiscent of the alabaster urn that was broken over Jesus’ feet shortly before His burial. She serves to remind us of God’s great mercy for us all!
St. Monica
St. Monica was the mother of St. Augustine, for whose conversion she prayed for more than thirty years. She is the patroness of all of us who are praying for family members who have wandered away from the Lord. St. Monica stands at the end of the main aisle of the Church, at the area where the gifts of bread and wine are brought up, which become for us at every Mass the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus.
St. Faustina
St. Faustina stands next to Monica. Faustina was also a recent saint, having died in 1938. She was blessed with many visions of the Lord, and chosen by Him to be a herald of His great divine mercy for sinners. She reminds us all to constantly pray, “Jesus, I trust in You!”
St. Thomas
St. Thomas the apostle, also known as “doubting Thomas,” stands with his finger extended, a reminder of when he was told by Jesus to place his finger into the wound marks in Jesus’ hands and side after His glorious resurrection. He is here to comfort us all when doubts arise with regards to our faith.
St. Paul
St. Paul stands closest to the mosaic of Our Lady of Good Counsel. Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles, the non-Jewish people, and the author of many letters in the New Testament. He stands with a sword in his hand, a reminder of the manner in which he was martyred by the Roman Empire, in the year 67 or so.