Celebrating THE KINGSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST

from Instaurare | Summer 2023

OMNIA IN CHRISTO Socrates on the Blessing of Being Refuted

THE DEDICATION OF CHRIST THE KING CHAPEL

BY ZACH SMITH

It started as a dream. Spires rising out of the Shenandoah Valley and raising one’s eyes toward Heaven along with them. The Sacred Heart of Jesus, radiating out over the Valley and made visible to anyone driving past on Interstate 66. A structure, inspired by the Gothic cathedrals of Europe, that would stand as a reminder of Christ’s Kingship here on Earth.

Finally, this dream became a reality in April, with the dedication of Christendom’s new Christ the King Chapel. Years of work, sacrifice, and prayer culminated in a beautiful Mass of Dedication, making Christ the King Chapel not simply a building but a stunning home for Our Lord, where countless souls will be able to encounter beauty for generations to come.

To fully understand the power of this moment, it is necessary to start at the beginning. Christendom first publicly began fundraising for the new chapel in 2016, launching the multimillion-dollar A Call to Greatness campaign—the most ambitious financial campaign in the history of the college.

Across the country, benefactors saw the vision for the new chapel and wanted to be a part of it. So many generously sacrificed for the campaign, helping to raise money for the college’s endowment fund, annual fund, and especially the chapel, with the campaign coming to a close in 2018.

Led by the college’s Vice President for Operations and Planning Mike Foeckler and Chapel Project Manager Pat Haggerty, the college broke ground on the new chapel in 2019. Construction continued over the next four years—including throughout the COVID-19 pandemic—with Hoar Construction serving as the general contractor for the project.

Inspired by the Gothic cathedrals of Europe, the chapel project attracted artisans from both inside and outside the Christendom community, eager to unite in the creation of something transcendent. Kegg Pipe Organ Builders joined the project early on, agreeing to design, install, and voice a beautiful 2,850-pipe organ. The college rescued a High Altar and four side shrines in need of restoration, working with Rugo Stone to bring them back to their former glory. In the chapel’s bell towers, 12 bells were restored or made by McShane Bell Company—including the bell from the college’s original Christ the King Chapel. And, filling the walls of the chapel, stained glass windows of the saints were both restored and newly created by Beyer Studio.

From the college’s alumni community, Corey Morgan ’07 handcrafted beautiful, ornate woodwork to adorn the chapel, especially the confessionals. Michael Schmitt ’03 hand-carved in limestone the Latin inscription that resides above the entry doors, which reads “This is the House of God and Gate of Heaven.” And Mandy Hain ’07, the beloved artist who passed away in 2023 after a battle with cancer, made the chapel part of her lasting legacy. She painted the beautiful ceiling of the crossing tower, creating an elaborate starfield that points to the Eucharist as the center of the universe and of all life. When one raises his eyes in the chapel, he sees the focus of Mandy’s life—what should be the focus of all human life as a whole.

The hard work of these artisans, contractors, and the college’s staff and faculty, along with the sacrifices of so many benefactors, reached a conclusion over the weekend of April 14–16, beginning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by

Senator Rick Santorum, members of the Front Royal Board of Supervisors and Town Council, and others. Senator Santorum, who served on the college’s 45th Anniversary Gala Celebration Honorary Committee, delivered remarks before the ribboncutting, speaking to the importance of well-educated and virtuous leaders and the contribution of Christendom alumni to the common good.

“Christendom stands in my mind as a gem—inculcating virtue into young people and teaching them what the good life and a happy life really is all about: a life oriented toward the true, the good, and the beautiful, and oriented thereby to God,” said Santorum. “This chapel is the lampstand that’s showing the light of Christendom to this valley, to the people driving by, and for others who will see and hear about this institution, because of the beauty and wonder and spectacular-ness of this chapel.”

College President Dr. Timothy O’Donnell delivered remarks to close the ceremony, looking back to the roots of the college and toward the future impact of the chapel on Christendom and on the entire Front Royal and Northern Virginia community.

“It’s by going back to our roots and our foundation that we can find the way forward now for our country, for our society,” said O’Donnell. “Everything from the spires that you see rising up above, pointing to Heaven, to the Gothic crossing tower, all of those windows and arches inside the building point us to where we’re all destined: toward Heaven. I hope that here in the chapel, each of you, when you enter inside, will encounter beauty. It’s my hope that each person who enters the chapel will encounter Christ and His superabundant presence, His anticipated presence as the Bread of Life in the beautiful life of His mother, and also in the lives of so many great saints that will surround and fill up the clerestory windows. I hope that all who enter this college chapel will feel the richness of our common patrimony that we have as human beings and as Christians and recognize the incredible heritage that is ours.”

Mrs. Anne Carroll, the wife of the college’s late founder, Dr. Warren H. Carroll, was then welcomed forward to cut the ribbon for the chapel with O’Donnell, Santorum, and Chairman of the Board Stephen O’Keefe. Together, they officially opened Christ the King Chapel to the public.

On Friday evening, Francis Cardinal Arinze, who has been a dear friend of the college for decades, led Solemn

Vespers in the chapel. Following Vespers, O’Donnell thanked all those who made the new chapel possible and read a letter from the late Pope Benedict XVI, who blessed the cornerstone in 2008. In his letter, which the college received a few months before his passing, Pope Benedict expressed his joy at the completion of the chapel and his prayer that it be an outward expression of Christ’s Kingship here on Earth.

“As I had the privilege to bless the cornerstone for the new chapel, it fills me with joy that this beautiful church is now almost completed and will be consecrated and dedicated to Christ the King in the coming year,” wrote Pope Benedict in May 2022. “It is my wish, and my prayer, that this chapel may be a visible expression that the truth and love of Christ continue to animate, to guide, and to distinguish the activities in Christendom

College. Invoking God’s abundant blessings upon you, the professors, students, and staff of Christendom College, I am fraternally yours in Christ.”

On Saturday afternoon, prior to the Mass of Dedication, Bishop Michael Burbidge, Cardinal Arinze, College Chaplain Fr. Marcus Pollard, Associate Chaplain Fr. Mark Fusco, and over 30 alumni priests processed from the college’s old chapel to the new Christ the King Chapel. Upon arrival, the plans, deed, and keys were handed over to Bishop Burbidge of the college’s home Diocese of Arlington, who then asked Fr. Pollard to unlock and open the chapel doors, officially beginning the Mass of Dedication.

During his homily, Bishop Burbidge congratulated the college community and its many benefactors on this beautiful accomplishment.

“We rejoice in this magnificent day that the Lord has given to us,” said Bishop Burbidge. “We rejoice as we celebrate the 45th anniversary of Christendom College, a treasure within the Diocese of Arlington, and indeed a precious gift to the entire Church. We rejoice as we dedicate this beautiful, glorious new chapel, a fitting dwelling place for the Lord. In building this glorious chapel, we announce the praises of God our Father and of Christ, King of the Universe. I express sincere congratulations and deep appreciation to your president, Dr. O’Donnell, and extend my heartfelt gratitude to you, the members and benefactors of this college, who supported this endeavor. Together, with the grace of God, you have built this new Chapel of Christ the King. It is a very proud day for this diocese and this community.”

Following the Mass, all present went to a high-top tent next to the chapel for the college’s 45th Anniversary Gala to celebrate this historic moment for the college. A fireworks display filled the sky above the college as well, commemorating the occasion spectacularly.

While the Christendom’s many benefactors, along with faculty and staff, were able to attend the Mass in person, others around the world were also able to watch the Mass on EWTN, making the Mass of Dedication a truly global event.

What started as a faith-inspired dream now stands 116 feet tall in the middle of the Shenandoah Valley. Christ the King Chapel was always intended to be a symbol of Christ’s Kingship here on Earth, serving as a spiritual home for the entire Christendom College community. Across the world, people are now encountering the beauty of the chapel both in person and online, seeing it for what it was always meant to be: a way of raising one’s eyes toward Heaven and God.

When Christendom was first founded in 1977, it started in a classroom in Triangle, Virginia. Forty-five years later, the college’s Front Royal, Virginia campus now serves as a beacon, pointing students, faculty, staff, visitors, and all who pass by on Interstate 66 toward Christ. The college’s founder, Dr. Warren Carroll, wanted the college to help “restore all things in Christ.” The new Christ the King Chapel continues that vision, bringing so many more souls to Christ as a result.

The college wishes to thank the many contractors, artists, consultants, and benefactors who made Christ the King Chapel possible. Without their time, effort, and tremendous sacrifice, this heroic symbol of Christ’s Kingship would not be complete.