The Walsh University community came together on Friday, February 2, for the Consecration of its new campus chapel, the Saint Teresa of Calcutta Chapel. The event marked a meaningful and joyous celebration of Walsh’s past, present and future.
Adding a dedicated space for adoration and prayer was a priority during the thoughtful design of Walsh’s newest academic center, the Marlene and Joe Toot Global Learning Center, which opened for classes on January 22. The Chapel, named for recently canonized Mother Teresa, provides an intimate space on campus for individual prayer and reflection as well as smaller ministry events.
Monsignor Robert Siffrin, Vicar General of the Diocese of Youngstown, and Walsh Senior Chaplain Reverend Thomas Cebula celebrated the Mass of the Consecration. Msgr. Siffrin also served as celebrant of the Consecration Ceremony of Walsh’s first free-standing Chapel, the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel, on September 8, 2006. Both ceremonies have marked a significant moment in Walsh’s history.
"The Saint Teresa of Calcutta Chapel is a tribute to Walsh’s most famous alumna, Mother Teresa, who visited our campus in the 1980s and to whom we presented an honorary degree," said Walsh President Richard Jusseaume. "While this chapel is a tribute to her, it is also a living testimony to our Catholic faith, the Brothers of Christian Instruction, and our community. It took all three to dream this sacred space into reality."
Earlier in the week, the Walsh community was invited to a devotional display of the 1st Class Relic of St. Teresa before it was sealed in the altar of the Chapel during the Consecration Celebration. Following the Consecration of the Chapel on Friday evening, Walsh faculty, staff and students participated in the Chapel’s first all-night adoration.
Features of the Chapel include religious artifacts that reflect the legacy of the Brothers of Christian Instruction.
The Chapel’s Crucifix was created with a Corpus commissioned in Italy for the Canadian Province of Brothers mounted on a wooden cross hand-carved by Walsh Professor of Physical Therapy Dr. Mark Wilhelm. The wood for the cross came from a Walsh maple tree that was originally planted by Walsh Founder Br. Dacian Barrette and the Student-Brothers more than 50 years ago and removed for construction of the GLC. Dr. Wilhelm crafted the Cross to specifically fit the Corpus gifted to Walsh by the Brothers.
In addition, the statues of Mary and Joseph, also commissioned in Italy, were donated by the Canadian Province and will now be permanently housed at Walsh. The Tabernacle was also a gift from the Brothers in Alfred, Maine. The stained glass windows of the Chapel venerate seven saints including St. Teresa of Calcutta, St. Anne, St. John Vianney, St. Catharine of Bologna, St. Therese of Lisieux, Our Lady of Fatima and an image of the Blessed Sacrament exposed.
The Global Learning Center was funded by donations to Walsh’s We Believe Campaign. Lead gifts to the chapel included Roger ’65 and Patricia DeVille and Frank ’85 and Patricia D’Angelo.