Église Notre-Dame-du-Perpétuel-Secours

Gazing upon the Église Notre-Dame-du-Perpétuel-Secours, can you sense the echoes of its unfinished past? This neo-Romanesque church, designed by Alfred Nasousky, began its journey in 1934. Cardinal Verdier laid the first stone, and the church was consecrated in 1936. However, World War II interrupted construction, leaving the bell tower and facade incomplete. For eighty years, these elements remained unfinished, a silent testament to the disruption of war. Imagine the Église Notre-Dame-du-Perpétuel-Secours as it was intended, the full vision of Nasousky finally realized. In 2016, that vision began to materialize. The project, costing 2.5 million euros, entered its final phase. The facade, now much more transparent than originally planned, features a grand door. Above this door is a representation of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, flanked by two new entrances. A striking feature of the facade is the immense inverted bas-relief. This depicts the Virgin and Child, crafted from polished white concrete and framed by stained glass. The choice of white concrete was no accident. Nasousky intended it to evoke the purity of the Immaculate Virgin. The concrete, a material chosen for its enduring nature, is further enhanced by Carrara marble. This marble addition creates a mirror-like effect on the polished concrete, protecting it from the elements. The bas-relief itself is a marvel of engineering. Two panels, flanking a coffered stained glass window, were created using specific molds. A mixture of Carrara marble powder and white cement was poured into these molds. The upper part, measuring 7 meters by 3.70 meters, was polished by machine and hand. The lower part, measuring 5 meters by 3.70 meters, was polished entirely by hand. Each section weighs a hefty 8.5 tons and 7.5 tons respectively. The recessed areas were left unpolished, creating a textural contrast. The immaculate white surface bestows upon the Église Notre-Dame-du-Perpétuel-Secours an almost magical luminosity. The church is more than just concrete and marble. It’s a symbol of resilience, a testament to the enduring power of faith. The Église Notre-Dame-du-Perpétuel-Secours stands complete, its story etched in stone and glass, a beacon of hope in Asnières-sur-Seine.