The Message photo by John Rohlf
By John Rohlf, The Message assistant editor
A month after construction was completed for a new oratory at the Newman Center at the University of Evansville, Bishop Joseph M. Siegel dedicated the altar and blessed the Oratory of St. Pier Giorgio Frassaiti.
Bishop Joseph M. Siegel celebrated Mass March 16 at the new Oratory of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati. He dedicated the altar and blessed the oratory during the Mass. During the prayer of dedication and anointings, he placed a relic of St. Maria Goretti into the base of the altar, anointed the altar and incensed the altar. Ministers covered and lighted the altar.
“The chapel was a long-standing dream of the ministry and a couple of donors that have wanted to fund the chapel at the Newman Center for some time,” Lynn Falcony, University of Evansville campus minister, said. “It just worked out this year we were able to realize that dream with the help of funding from additional private donors and a grant from the Catholic foundation and grants from the Koch Foundation.”
Falcony said the planning has been in the works for the last 1.5 years. Construction began in September and concluded in February. The upstairs of the University of Evansville Newman Center was renovated for the chapel space. The spare bedroom remaining in the upstairs of the Newman Center will be utilized as a sacristy space and confessional, she said.
During his homily at the Mass, Bishop Siegel referenced the first reading from Genesis 28:11-18, which said in part “How awesome is this place? This is none other than the house of God, the gateway to heaven!” Bishop Siegel said these words of awe and wonder capture well what they were celebrating at the special Mass. This oratory will indeed be holy as an abode of God, Bishop Siegel said, and through their worship there, the Lord will inspire and guide the students of the Newman Center during their studies at the University of Evansville and ultimately, on their pilgrim way to heaven.
Bishop Siegel said he was thankful for Falcony, Diocese of Evansville Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry Sherie Cooley and Jeremy Goebel, former Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, for overseeing this effort over the past many months, along with their other ministry work. He also expressed his deep gratitude to all the generous donors, along with those who designed the oratory space and constructed the altar, ambo and other sanctuary furniture.
Bishop Siegel recognized Diocesan Director of the Office of Worship Matt Miller, who was instrumental in the planning of the chapel space. Bishop Siegel also expressed his appreciation to Father Alex Zenthoefer, Diocese of Evansville Vicar General and rector of St. Benedict Cathedral, and Father Tyler Underhill, parochial vicar at St. Benedict Cathedral, for their service through the Newman Center community.
Bishop Siegel said in the solemn litany, they called upon Mary, Mother of God, our diocesan patroness; St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, the patron of this oratory; St. John Henry Newman, patron of this Catholic Center; and all of God’s saints to fill the church with their unseen presence as they dedicated the altar for worship. The chapel will also have a powerful intercessor in St. Maria Goretti, whose relic Bishop Siegel placed in the altar. Bishop Siegel invited the students to look to her intercession and example of a young, courageous woman, as they continue to grow in their relationship with Christ and the church.
Falcony said they decided on St. Pier Giorgio Frassati as the patron of the oratory because he was a young saint that closely embodied the goals of Aces Catholic, which is faith, friendship and service. He was a man of deep personal prayer and devotion to the Eucharist, but was not satisfied with just focusing on his own relationship with Christ, Falcony said.
“He also sought to bring his friends to Christ, too,” Falcony said. “He did all this while maintaining a commitment to serving the poor in his area. And these are the values we seek to instill in our students at Aces Catholic: to nurture a personal prayer life and devotion to the Eucharist, to evangelize and bring others closer to Christ and to serve the needs of those around us.”
Falcony believes the chapel at the Newman Center exists for a couple reasons. First, she thinks that the physical and true presence of Christ provides an opportunity to support and transform ministry. It allows them to center their gatherings around Mass and Eucharistic adoration. It also provides students with closer proximity to a chapel to pray in between classes throughout the day, as opposed to walking down to the chapel at St. Benedict Cathedral, Falcony said.
“The chapel will practically benefit UE students and the ministry by allowing greater access to the sacraments closer to home, especially for students without transportation,” Falcony said. “Spiritually, the chapel allows the students the space to encounter, deepen and engage their relationship with Christ in an environment dedicated to their needs and growth within an evolving community they are helping to nurture and build.”
