Everyone should have friends who are willing to derail their plans to slam on the brakes whenever you gasp the words “look at that!”
My Pittsburgh pal is a champ in this category. When we spotted this Catholic church atop a hill in a tiny western Pennsylvania village, she didn’t hesitate to look for the entrance.
The door was open so we were able to let ourselves in. My friend prayed while I admired the quiet and the light of this beautiful sanctuary.
It really is gorgeous.
It was built in 1893 and, while it feels historic, it also feels fresh and well cared for.
The stained glass is magnificent.
The cemetery contains numerous old graves with interesting, finely crafted headstones.
Lovely, eh?
Just before we left, we met a woman who is a longtime congregant. We had a quick chat with her and she confirmed that the church has an active congregation and she seemed positively thrilled that we showed an interest.
It made my heart happy to think there are still people out there so devoted to their church and faith and that they would make strangers feel so welcome.
From 
The first Mass in Marietta was celebrated at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum rivers when there were few Catholics in the area. It was led by the chaplain to a French expedition from Quebec. In the 1830s, land was acquired for a parish and a building was erected. Unfortunately, it suffered devastating damage from flooding over a period of years.
I mentioned yesterday that most churches used to be open and available all the time. This one isn’t available all the time but you can access it outside Mass hours and I’m grateful that they welcome visitors. It felt like a great privilege to sit quietly, to meander and to admire the art and craftsmanship at leisure.