The Chapel

Simple and symbolic, the chapel is a testament to our founders

Formally dedicated on July 21, 1970, the St. Lawrence Seminary student chapel is unique in its construction. The interior is dark and sparsely decorated, contrary to many modern churches and religious buildings. The interior was designed to resemble that of a cave. This is a symbolic reminder of the types of places in which St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Capuchin Franciscan order, prayed. The resting place of St. Francis, a chapel in the heart of Assisi, Italy, is also constructed to resemble a cave.

Four bells sit high atop the chapel, enclosed in a small tower. All of the bells are in themselves an important piece of history. Three of the bells, all of which were cast in 1883, had been installed in the parish church that once stood where the present-day chapel is. Each bell is specifically dedicated: the largest bell to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the second largest to our Blessed Mother and the third largest to St. Joseph. The smallest bell, sometimes known as the toll bell, had originally been installed in the old friary chapel in 1869 and was moved to the new chapel upon completion of the construction. The toll bell is dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi.

The interior of the chapel has a simple beauty. The altar is carved out of Appalachian white oak and measures 12 feet in length. The tabernacle is a hand-crafted work of bronze. It symbolizes the realm of the universe. A beautiful eight foot figure of the Triumphant Christ covers the northwest wall directly under the bell tower. A dark, three-dimensional background, known as the reredos, lies behind the figure of the Triumphant Christ. The reredos is made of lead and measures 35 feet in length. Its combined weight is more than 1.5 tons! Together the figure of the Triumphant Christ and the reredos beautifully illustrate the Canticle of the Sun, a prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi.