Stritch to construct new Saint Francis of Assisi Chapel
posted March 8, 2011
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Artist rendering (subject to change)
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Cardinal Stritch University will construct a state-of-the-art, modern worship space on campus later this year, to be named Saint Francis of Assisi Chapel.
The new chapel will be 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 will be able to accommodate 160 people, which is four times the capacity of the present space.
Construction is expected to begin in May and should be completed by early fall. The architecture for the new chapel is being supplied by Groth Design of Cedarburg, and C.G. Schmidt of Milwaukee will handle construction.
The latest efforts to build a new chapel on campus began amongst students, who presented a letter with 60 signatures that described the need to Interim President Kent Bergemann and the Board of Trustees last December. Michael Brauer, vice president of University Advancement, envisioned a unique opportunity on the second floor of Bonaventure Hall.
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 new St. Francis of Assisi Chapel will be a modern facility with a central location that reaffirms the University’s ongoing commitment to its Catholic Franciscan identity. Construction is possible due to several generous donations that have provided all of the necessary funds.
“It is fundamental to our identity as a Catholic university in the Franciscan tradition to not only encourage academic excellence, but also spiritual growth,” said Interim President Kent Bergemann. “Our new chapel will be a place where future generations of students, faculty, staff and visitors can gather to experience that vital spiritual core. Our students’ hopes for a larger chapel renewed the inspiration and desire expressed by the Sisters in 1962, and we thank them all for their vision.”