A New Beacon of Faith Invites Loyola Students to Prayer

Commemorating the Feast Day of St. Ignatius Loyola, Jesuit priests joined Loyola University of New Orleans faculty, students, alumni and benefactors to pack the new Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola for Mass today at the new Gayle and Tom Benson Jesuit Center and in the heart of the campus of Loyola University. Archbishop Gregory Aymond celebrated the Mass and consecrated the altar.

Located in the center of campus, the new circular-shaped chapel, standing 32 feet tall and 78 feet in diameter, is situated outside of Monroe Hall and is fully operational after 15 years of planning and three years of construction and finishing touches.

“We are here today to celebrate the construction of this place that by its very nature is an object that cannot speak, because it has no mouth,” said Archbishop Gregory Aymond. “But this chapel in the middle of Loyola’s campus speaks loudly - What does it say? What does Jesus say? It says come and enter here to all who pass by, it is an invitation to meet Jesus.”

“Today we bless this chapel,” he added. “Its purpose is to bring God to us and us to God.”

The archbishop recited the prayer of dedication and called on the Holy Spirit to set the building apart as a holy place.  In doing so, he anointed the altar and walls with sacred chrism and then used incense over the altar and around the chapel to symbolize the rising of the congregation’s prayers to God.

University representatives participated in the Mass by processing with flowers and a candle (which was brought to the archbishop as part of the dedication) and served as altar dressers and gift bearers.

“Today we pledge this is a sacred place to use only for the worship of God,”

Archbishop Aymond said. “The altar is a sacred, sacred place and we pour chrism to anoint and consecrate it today.”

According to Jesuit Father John Cunningham, Loyola vice president for mission and identity, although they have been celebrating Eucharists, weddings and baptisms in conjunction with Holy Name of Jesus Parish over the last year, it’s just been the last few months that they brought the sacred objects into this space – including the altar from Ireland that was put in place recently so they could celebrate today.

“This is the first stand-alone chapel on campus,” he added. “The old chapel was in a basement of another building and now we have this beautiful chapel in the center of campus. Students are already coming into the building in the middle of the day to pray and worship, it is wonderful to see.”
 
The university broke ground on the chapel in the middle of the pandemic in 2021 and had delays getting bricks and sculptures from Italy due to supply chain issues, employment scarcity and lack of materials. Then as things came together, they were able to open the chapel and begin celebrating Mass. Today’s Mass and altar consecration was especially poignant as universal church celebrated the memorial of St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits and patron of Loyola University New Orleans.

Daily Masses are celebrated Monday through Friday at 12:30 p.m., with Sunday Masses at 11 a.m. and 9 p.m., and the chapel is open daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. The space can accommodate up to 150 people, with flexible seating arrangements according to Father Cunningham.

“Let’s pray that all those that pass by this place especially those that come within, hear the Lord say Come to me, you are welcome,’” Aymond said. “This chapel has no mouth, it can not speak, yet it does speak, by its very presence on this campus – you are welcome here.”