Mary Chapel Renovation Has Enhanced Religious Life at Holy Cross, Chaplain Says

Mary Chapel, a previously underutilized space on the lower level of the majestic St. Joseph Memorial Chapel at the College of the Holy Cross, was dramatically renovated in 2003. In the years since, the chapel’s new spaces for worship and reflection have infused energy in the College community’s religious development and spirituality, says Paul Covino, associate chaplain and director of liturgy at the College.

In a two-part illustrated article for EnVisionChurch.org, an online publication on church art and architecture from the Georgetown Center for Liturgy, Covino writes: “Students and staff alike comment on what some would call the qualities of transcendence and immanence in these spaces, and students are making connections between what they experience in the layout, furnishings and art in these spaces and the rest of their faith life.”

The configuration of the chapel for Mass — which was determined, in part, by student feedback — is one example. “When the chapel is full, as it often is for the lively and well attended weekly Sunday 7 p.m. Mass, no one is more than six rows away from the altar and lectern,” Covino writes. “The music ministers are well integrated in the assembly, and the presiding priest, while seated in a distinctive area, is not at all removed from the rest of the assembly.”

The baptismal and gathering space, located between McCooey and Mary chapels, is another example cited by Covino. The baptimsal font (pictured) with constantly flowing water “has become one of the most popular places” for reflection, he writes. “Students easily make the connection to their own baptism.”

Also in his article, Covino describes in detail much of the distinctive art that marks the liturgical spaces. For example, the new tabernacle, located in a small, private place for prayer, incorporates purple heart wood, a nod to the College’s purple and white colors.  The fabric hanging behind the tabernacle was made by women in a province of Indonesia impacted by the tsumani in 2005 and was a gift of Susan Rodgers, professor of anthropology at Holy Cross, whose scholarly research is based in that region.

Covino chronicles the history of the renovation, as well. In the late 1990s, the College Chaplains initiated a process to develop a worship space on campus that enhanced the celebration of the postconciliar liturgy. They sought input from student, faculty and staff and worked with a liturgical design consultant, architect, construction manager, and liturgical artists to achieve their goal. The renovation of Mary Chapel was a priority of the College’s Board of Trustees, and took place during the summer of 2003. The $2 million cost was underwritten by John Figge ’52, in honor of Bob McCooey ’59, for whom the smaller chapel was named.

Read the first part. Read the second part. (Registration required.)

Related Information:

• Read more about the renovation of the chapel (.pdf) • Chaplains’ Office