St Ignatius cathedral in Xujiahui had an open house this afternoon showcasing the in-progress refitting of the church building's windows with stained glass. Volunteers gave guided tours, and Father Thomas Lucas was available for informal chats about project's progress and technical details. Jodi and I walked around admiring the stained glass, reading their stories -- each window was accompanied by a framed explanation -- and snapping pictures. Here are some of the best:

I can't wait until 2010, when the project is slated to be finished. When we arrived at 2:30pm today, the sun was rolling in through the upper windows and splashing the cathedral's white knave with tides of color. When completely finished it will be a wonder to behold.