Bishop's Ordination Gift Box
Overview
A handcrafted wooden box built to present four silver candlesticks and a copy of Les Misérables — offered as a gift on the occasion of the ordination of The Most Reverend Robert J. McClory as Bishop of Gary, Indiana on February 11, 2020.
The gift was presented on behalf of the Ascenzo, Flaga, Mullins, and Stonehill families.
The Symbolism
The pairing of Les Misérables with candlesticks is drawn directly from one of the novel’s most enduring scenes — the Bishop of Digne offering his silver candlesticks to Jean Valjean, an act of unconditional grace that sets the entire story in motion. It is a moment that distills the virtues of mercy, compassion, and redemption into a single gesture.
The gift was chosen to reflect those same values as Reverend McClory stepped into his role as bishop — a life of service guided by the same light the candlesticks represent.
Construction
The box was hand-built to fit the candlesticks and book as a unified presentation piece, intended to be kept as a lasting keepsake of the occasion.
- Body: Dark walnut with tight finger-jointed corners
- Floor: Cedar, flocked interior
- Lid glazing: Museum glass (ultra-low reflectivity, UV-blocking)
- Hardware: Brass
- Interior: Custom-fitted mounts for four silver candlesticks and the book