Where art rekindles faith

Luminiscience is the laity doing exactly what Sheen foresaw, reviving the faith not by decree, but by illuminating the sacred through light and music;

Greg Maresca , Bio and Archives--June 22, 2026

Cover Story | Comments | Reader Friendly | Subscribe | Email Us

Recent headlines speak of a growing return to the faith of our fathers, but the hard numbers tell a harsher story. Weekly church attendancehas fallen from roughly 42% at the turn of the century to about 30% today, while church membership has dropped from 70% to under 50% in a single generation. Church closures now outpace openings with roughly 4,000 shutting their doors in a single year.

Revival may be whispered about, but the empty pews and darkened sanctuaries underscore how the road back is long and nowhere near a revival.

In this midst is an encounter called Luminiscience, a production already making waves across the country. It made its American debut in Minneapolis, where the Basilica of Saint Mary became the first American cathedral to host the vision before it later expanded to Philadelphia.

Now installed at the Catholic Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, it transforms one of the city’s grandest religious landmarks into something more than a serene, majestic space for worship. It has become a point of fascination drawing interest not only from Philadelphians but from well beyond the city of brotherly love.

Romain Sarfati’s French team of artists adds a jolt of spectacle to the basilica’s imposing brownstone facade, vast domed interior, ornate altars, and stained glass........

© Canada Free Press