On Thursday February 24 the newly constructed chapel held its first mass.  Construction commenced during summer 2010 and the mass, celebrated by Father Jerry Waris, was its grand opening. There were approximately sixty in attendance, including students, parents and faculty, a change from the typical twenty person gathering, according to Stephanie Pino-Dressman campus minister.

Pino-Dressman believes the chapel will increase mass turn out.

“Some people have a preference for celebrating mass in a chapel instead of a gym or large meeting room,” Pino-Dressman said.

The religion department plans to bring students in weekly for prayer. In fact, the first group to use the chapel was the physical education classes.  The annual blood drive is held in the  New Grande Salle.  So the physical eduation classes had the opportunity to partake in meditations. Since the chapel can hold 120, class masses will take place.

“I’ve only been able to go there during my Peer Ministry class; we pray in there once a week.” Laura Camarata said

The design and location were mapped and planned by Head of School Alice Munninghoff and architect Amy Echkoff. Echkoff designed the chapel with the overall appearance of the school’s architecture in mind.  Munninghoff agreed that it should coordinate with all of the renovations and have an important location.

“I wanted the chapel located at the front and center of the school since it is the heart of the school,” Munninghoff said.

Pino-Dressman said she has recieved positive feedback about the chapel. Some students like the color, some the textured wall that gives it a warm feel and some like that the design is simple and uncomplicated. Students are also enjoying the natural light and the ability to dim overhead lights and spotlights.

“I love how the chapel now receives much more light. And I don’t miss the loud clanking of the water pipes drowning out our homilies,” Camarata said.

Several pieces from the old chapel were incorporated into the new chapel, including the stations of the cross, the tabernacle and all the communion vessels, and the corpus. The corpus is placed on a handmade wooden cross, from tree limbs outside the chapel, by Augie Huber III, A.L. Huber CEO.

Pino-Dressman said, “All of these items were selected to go into the new chapel because they were in excellent condition and because of their connection to our past, which is imperative.”