Jesuit Dedicates New Chapel With 1st U.S. Bishop Named By Pope

TAMPA, FL -- On the eve of its 120th school year, Jesuit High School celebrated a historic milestone Aug. 7: The Rite of Dedication for the Chapel of the Holy Cross.

Bishop Michael C. Barber, S.J. of Oakland, California, the first American bishop appointed by Pope Francis, was the celebrant of joyous occasion years in the making. Jesuit priests, along with dozens of Jesuit student altar servers, chamber musicians, choir singers as well as hundreds of Jesuit High School supporters joined the bishop at this event.

Now consecrated, the 950-seat Holy Cross Chapel – the heart of the school at the center of campus – represents the fourth major sacred space in Jesuit's history.

It is preceded by St. Louis Church (1899-1905), Sacred Heart Church (1905-1962) and St. Anthony's Chapel (1962-2016).

Featuring the works of Spanish painter Raul Berzosa and Florence, Italy-based sculptor Cody Swanson, the new student chapel will serve the greater Jesuit community and boys in the Tampa Bay area for the 21st century and beyond.

The event began with a processional from the south end of the gymnasium. It moved north past Faber Hall and then west along the south side of the chapel before finishing at the chapel portico. There, the chapel's architect, Duncan Stroik of the University of Notre Dame, and Taylor Burt '08, representing contractor Batson-Cook, offered the keys and the plan to the building to the bishop.

Jesuit School President Fr. Richard C. Hermes, S.J. then unlocked the doors to the chapel and led everyone inside.

The bishop, accompanied by assisting priests including Fr. Hermes, S.J. and Jesuit High School's Fr. J. Patrick Hough, S.J., Fr. Paul Deutsch, S.J., Fr. Vincent Capuano, S.J., Fr. Angel Rivera-Fals, S.J., and Fr. Jay Hooks, S.J., led the ceremony. He sprinkled the people and the walls with holy water all throughout the chapel. Six authentic relics were part of the processional (they had been venerated in the gymnasium) and Bishop Barber placed one in an aperture at each of the four side shrines, and two in the main altar. There, they were enclosed by a stonemason.

"May the Lord by his power sanctify this altar and this house, which by our ministry we anoint, so that as visible signs they may express the mystery of Christ and the Church,” said Bishop Barber before pouring the sacred Chrism and anointing the altar.

The inaugural Mass (click here for the Mass program) inside Holy Cross Chapel was in memory of Fr. Michael Kennelly, S.J., who was president of Jesuit in the 1950s and spearheaded the school's relocation to Himes Avenue in 1956. The school is located at 4701 N. Himes Ave., Tampa.

The Mass was dedicated in honor of Marjorie Couch, mother of Ted Couch '54. Couch made the largest gift in school history, $3.15 million, to Jesuit's “For Greater Glory” campaign.

The chapel of the Holy Cross is the second major structure supported by the $40 million campaign. Launched in 2015, “For Greater Glory” represents a renewal of school life by investing fully in Jesuit's people, programs and facilities.

The campaign includes both Phase I and Phase II of the school's campus master plan.

Phase I has included Gonzmart Hall, a 32,000-square-foot administration and student center that was dedicated in March, and the Oliva Courtyard. The courtyard connects Holy Cross Chapel with Gonzmart Hall and will be completed in the coming weeks.

Hermes also spoke about additional elements being added to the chapel as it completes construction, including stained glass above the choir loft on the west side.

Phase II will include a new performing arts center.

Following a year of planning and two years of construction, the chapel represents one of the landmarks in Jesuit High School's history. At 13,000-square feet (and 126-feet high to the top of the gold leaf-covered cross above the cupola), it has allowed Jesuit to expand the student body.

Its predecessor, St. Anthony's Chapel, served Jesuit for 55 years and had a capacity of a little under than 700.

This fall for the first time, Jesuit began its school year with 800 students, who will all fit comfortably in the chapel every morning for daily Convocation.

The event also marked the debut of the organ at Jesuit. Played by Jesuit's first Zipoli Scholar, Jordan Vivero '18, the Phoenix Organ provides a traditional, sacred soundtrack to Mass and other chapel events.

The choir and chamber orchestra, led by Dominick DiCarlo and Nina Wegmann, provided an inspiring performance.

The five chapel paintings by Berzosa include the "Vision at La Storta" behind the main altar. While on his journey from Venice to Rome in 1537, St. Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuit Order, and his companions paused at a small church where Ignatius saw God the Father together with Jesus who was carrying his cross. Ignatius then heard the words, "I will be favorable to you in Rome." The Jesuit Order was approved by Pope Paul III in Rome in 1540.

The four corners of the chapel are occupied by sacred side shrines, each dedicated to a Jesuit martyr and featuring the work of Berzosa, depicting them when they were martyred: St. Edmund Campion, 1581 at Tyburn in England; French missionary St. Isaac Jogues, 1646 at Auriesville, New York; St. Paul Miki, 1597 in Nagasaki, Japan; and Bl. Miguel Pro,1927 in Mexico.

In front of the chapel on each side of the entrance is a statue of St. Ignatius to the left and of St. Francis Xavier to the right. Both were created by Swanson, who also made the Stations of the Cross that circle the chapel's interior.

All of the chapel marble is from Italy (it was selected during a visit to Italy by Hermes), and the stained glass on the east side is from Conrad Schmitt Studios in Wisconsin.

After the Mass ended, there was a reception on the east side of the chapel in the Student Commons.

Images via Jesuit High School

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