Ed was intrigued. “As an amateur historian, I thought it would be an interesting challenge to locate living relatives of the families who paid for the windows.”

He reached out to Samantha Emmanuel, a lifelong Saint Leo parishioner and an art conservator. Together, both collaborated on a project that became equal parts an investigation into parish history, a journey of heightened appreciation for the craft of sacred stained-glass windows — as well as the rich symbolism of our faith — and a way of uniting the families of the original window sponsors whose generosity imparted a multi-hued legacy for future generations.

Investigation into History and Art

For months, the two pored over records, photos, and newspaper archives. Ed investigated the original families, and out of the 34 names, he managed to locate descendants from 29 families. Meanwhile, Samantha learned more about the windows themselves.

As she delved into the iconography of each window, she was struck by the rich layering of symbolism contained in each window. She reflected, “I admired the windows as a kid, but I didn’t really start looking closely at them until recently. They are so modern and vibrant yet still steeped in traditional religious symbolism.”

Samantha also recalled growing in knowledge of her parish patron Pope Saint Leo I, a.k.a. Saint Leo the Great. “I learned so much about Pope Leo! There were details I wouldn’t have known otherwise. Everything, from the gestures to the symbols, to the colors; everything was chosen for a reason.”

With all the information gathered, Ed felt the project “took on a completely new and more extensive focus. Samantha's research turned the effort into a project worthy of being published.” With the help of the Knights of Columbus, Ed and Samantha’s research is now a booklet, Saint Leo the Great and its Stained Glass Windows, which was sent to the located families.

The book contains information on each stained-glass masterpiece, the history of the parish, the artist, Ireland-born John Hogan (see sidebar), and an explanation of the rich imagery that Samantha identified. The next step of their journey was to reunite families.

Reconnecting Generations

In late September, following the 9:30 mass at Saint Leo, for the first time in 65 years, the descendants of the original donors gathered on the parish’s covered patio. Joining them was John Hogan, the great-grandson of the original master craftsman John Hogan (for whom he is named), who is now the 8th generation producing stained glass works of art.

Ed and Samantha’s hard work had succeeded in reuniting families, some of whom had no idea that their parents or grandparents had donated a window. “Some were stunned,” Samantha explained. “They had no idea this was part of their family’s story. It was such a joy to reconnect them to that legacy!”

One descendant, Maureen Standifer, is filled with gratitude that her family’s contribution is being acknowledged. “It is such an honor that Ed and Samantha donated so much of their time towards researching and creating the wonderful book about the windows.” She acknowledged, “It's an overwhelming task! Being part of this result is so very meaningful, especially knowing of their dedicated amount of time on behalf of my Scudero family legacy.”

Regarding Ed and Samantha’s hard work, Sean Hogan (father of John) reflected, “I feel honored that Ed and Samantha put so much effort into giving tribute to my grandfather and our family business,” Hogan said. “I’ve always strived to be like him and to continue the family tradition.”

Parish Stewardship of an Artistic Legacy

What began as a passion project unearthed Saint Leo parish’s history, united families, and inspired personal appreciation for sacred stained glass. It is a legacy of beauty and generosity, including the generous time and efforts of both Ed and Samantha.

Samantha considers the project an act of stewardship. “I hope that this project inspires other parishes to take stock of their artistic legacy.” Her ultimate goal is for Saint Leo’s parishioners to understand the one-of-a-kind nature of the artworks they have. “The stories within these windows and the awe they inspire should continue to be shared.”

For his part, Ed said, “I have a much better appreciation now of the stories told through art. These windows bind our community together in ways I hadn’t realized before.” Both also report a deepening of personal faith and a feeling of even greater connection to their community whenever they attend Mass and look up at the windows. Samantha described the experience. “When the light shines through those windows, the colors are so rich. It makes the whole church come alive. You can feel how much love went into creating them.”

From Ireland to California, The History of Craftsman John Hogan

Based on Information contained in Saint Leo the Great and its Stained Glass Windows

The Saint Leo stained-glass windows were commissioned by Father James Brown, who hired Irish craftsman John Hogan to create windows depicting New Testament stories, the Sacraments, the Saints, and the renowned exploits of Saint Leo the Great.

Hogan was a fifth-generation glassmaker who had just established San José’s only stained-glass workshop. His family continues his legacy, creating and restoring stained glass windows to this day. Hogan windows can be seen in churches throughout the West Coast and South Korea.