The stained glass windows were designed by Odell Prather, a friend of Bishop Dworschak, and based on themes proposed by Fr. Arth, the first rector of the seminary: parable of the Sower and the Seed, The Mystical Body, and The Great Commission. Each window is 13 feet high by 39 feet wide and divided into three panels, which are further divided into sections of colored art glass. The edge of the glass is deliberately chipped to refract more light.
The east window depicts the parable of the Sower of the Seed (see Mt 13:1-8). A seminarian must learn to listen to the Word of God attentively and respond in obedience.
To highlight certain parts of these windows, secondary sections have been deliberately diminished in brightness.
UPPER PART OF THE CENTRAL PANEL
The hand of the Sower casting the seed,
which is the Word (see Mk 4:14).
THE RIGHT PANEL
A flock of birds hungrily sweeping down,
ready to devour the seed. Thorns choking
the few remaining blades
which have grown.
THE LEFT PANEL
The seeds which have fallen into deep, rich soil have flourished and sprouted heads of grain.
Artist's note: You
will notice that the seeds from which this grain has sprouted, have within
them small crosses. These were the seeds that learned dying to self, and
therefore rising to the larger life (see John 12:24).
LOWER PART OF CENTRAL PANEL
Some seed falls on rocky ground, is scorched by the sun and withers for lack of roots.
Artist's Note: In both the left and the right panels, rain falls in jewel-like droplets from the clouds. Beside the hand of The Sower one sees the sun. This implies that all these seeds were furnished the elements necessary for their survival: sun and rain and soil.