Saint Francis of Assisi Chapel opens with Dedication Mass
posted Oct. 5, 2011
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Most Rev. Jerome Listecki, Archbishop of Milwaukee,
presides over the dedication Mass.
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A long-held dream of the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi was finally realized Oct. 4, when Cardinal Stritch University formally dedicated its modern new worship space -- Saint Francis of Assisi Chapel.
The Most Rev. Jerome Listecki, Archbishop of Milwaukee, presided over the Mass, which was followed by a reception.
The new chapel was constructed within space located in the southern wing of the second floor promenade/hallway of Bonaventure Hall, which is the University’s main administration building. The chapel is able to accommodate 160 people, which is four times the capacity of the former space.
The efforts to build a new chapel on campus began amongst students, who presented a letter with 60 signatures that described the need to University administration last December.
The new St. Francis of Assisi Chapel is a modern facility with a central location that reaffirms the University’s ongoing commitment to its Catholic Franciscan identity. Construction was possible due to several generous donations that have provided the necessary $610,000 in funding.
In addition, several pieces of beautiful stained glass above the doors to the chapel were made possible due to a $20,000 donation by an alumna. The glass was originally at St. Coletta of Wisconsin, and then refurbished and moved to Stritch. Both Stritch and St. Coletta’s are sponsored ministries of the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi.
An appropriately sized, centrally located chapel has long been deemed as a need for the University. In May 1962, when Stritch was moved from the city of St. Francis to its current Glendale/Fox Point main campus, the chapel was located in the basement of Serra Hall.
That space was considered by the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi to be a temporary location, but it was not until February 2007 that the chapel moved to its current location in a converted lounge/meeting room on the first floor of Bonaventure Hall. Since that time, participation in daily and weekend Mass, Praise and Worship services, and University events has grown beyond the capacity of either chapel space.
The architecture for the new chapel was supplied by Groth Design of Cedarburg, and C.G. Schmidt of Milwaukee handled construction.