CELEBRATING 100 YEARS
HEART OF THE SEMINARY
Prayer in the Chapel
Casey McCorry
The pulse of all seminarian life emanates from the space at the heart of Sacred Heart ’ s campus — the Main Chapel . Physically and spiritually the central part of the life of the Sacred Heart seminarian , the Main Chapel is the source of light and strength around which all seminary activity , work , and prayer orbits .
“ The architecture of the seminary building reveals a spiritual truth to the seminarians , which is a sign of good architecture ,” says Rector and President of Sacred Heart , Father Stephen Burr , “ Our chapel is at the very center of the building to display God ’ s appropriate place in our lives . The seminarians move to the center of the building for prayer , to give praise and worship to Jesus Christ , who is the center of our existence . When I pray in the chapel it is a quiet and peaceful place , large and inviting , simple and beautiful , which are some attributes of the Sacred Heart of Jesus .”
Largely unchanged since 1924 , this chapel has remained a haven in the city , a respite from studies , and an encounter with Christ for hundreds of seminarians , laypeople , professors , and visitors throughout the decades . The prayers of generations of bishops , priests , lay church leaders , and visitors have been whispered from the chapel ’ s oak pews , their songs have echoed across its gothic arches , and their eyes have gazed upon the Eucharist in this hallowed space . It ’ s where the hearts and minds of many young men have been molded from seminarian to priest .
“ The chapel is the place where , over a century , countless hearts have been won for his Sacred Heart , and from which countless heralds of the Gospel have gone forth to bring Christ to people and people to Christ ,” says Vice Rector and Dean of Seminarian Formation Father Charles Fox , “ I loved the chapel the first time I entered it over 25 years ago , and it remains my favorite place to pray .”
“ I ’ ve spent thousands of hours praying in the Sacred Heart Chapel at the seminary ,” reflects Director of Graduate Pastoral
Formation Father Stephen Pullis , “ Hours of discernment asking the Lord ’ s will for my life , hours of wrestling with the Lord in a struggle about what to do or how to do something , hours of intercession for family , friends , parishioners , priests , and seminarians , hours of praise to the Lord for his goodness to me .”
Enter the Sacred Heart Chapel from the bustling activity of students roaming the halls and the silence will overpower you . The silence is notable in most churches and chapels , but particularly obvious in this one as the chapel lies in the center of the seminary . Financed through a $ 250,000 endowment from six brothers of the Detroit-based Fisher Body Company , which later became part of General Motors , the decision to place the chapel in the center of the seminary was as much a practical design as it is symbolic . In a 1927 issue of The American Architect , the writer explains , “ It seemed reasonable , as well as symbolical of the purpose of the structure , to place the chapel in the heart of the group , giving to it a certain air of monastic seclusion and protection from disturbance .”
The art similarly lends itself to quiet solitude and reflection . Choosing the simpler chapel design as opposed to the elaborate and baroque one , both put forth by Father George Pare during the seminary ’ s construction , Bishop Michael Gallagher wanted a chapel that reflected the rest of the building and imbued a quieter , ascetic sense . In this chapel , what is ornate and spectacular is arrayed in the plain and ordinary — gothic arches and stained glass windows are encased by common brick walls , oak sculptures and furniture line the back of the altar , and the materials all bow to the story the art is seeking to tell . shms . edu 9