Christ the King Chapel U
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Over the past Several months, the new
Christ the King chapel has seen remarkable progress. Most notably, the 35-foot steeples housing the 12 bells will be raised at the end of April, bringing the final silhouette of the chapel to life. In addition to the installation of the steeples, four gold crowns will be installed at the top of the high tower, helping to make the chapel even more visible throughout the valley. Under the direction of alumna artist Mandy Hain ’07, several students and other volunteers applied 23-karat gold leafing to the facets of the 12-sided crowns. Remarkable progress has been made in the interior of the chapel as well. In the winter, the restored Nativity and Resurrection windows were installed at the south and north transepts. The creation of new stained glass windows and the restoration of rescued windows is ongoing, with several installations anticipated in the spring. The four antique Marian windows—the Annunciation, Visitation, Assumption, and Coronation—will be installed, along with the restored Sacred Heart window in the Lady Chapel. The new rose window depicting Our Lady Seat of Wisdom ringed by angels that represent the seven liberal arts will be installed above the main entrance on the west façade as well.
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The design for the statuary is being finalized, and a Gothic-style Pieta and Death of St. Joseph statue have been selected. Engineering and design for the new Botafumerio—a large thurible hung from the ceiling akin to the one used in Santiago de Compostela in Spain—are currently in motion. Mandy Hain is also in the final stages of painting the ceiling of the crossing tower. Work on the next phase of the chapel now begins with a shift to installation of interior wood paneling and wood flooring, installation of the main altar, and work on the four side chapel shrines—The Sacred Heart, The Crucifixion, Our Lady of Fatima, and Divine Mercy. With warmer weather on the way, the chapel’s outdoor features will also begin to take form. The parking lot will be paved, exterior walkways around the chapel will be installed, and final grading will be completed in the coming months. Designs for the Piazza of Christ the King are being finalized, with construction expected to begin this summer. Seeing such beautiful progress on the new chapel is cause for inspiration. Please continue to keep the construction of the Christ the King chapel in your prayers.
SPRING 2021
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