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Archbishop Rozanski Joins SLU's Jesuit Community to Consecrate New Jesuit Center Chapel

by Maggie Rotermund
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ST. LOUIS – The Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski, Archbishop of St. Louis, dedicated the altar in The Chapel of Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, located in the Jesuit Center of Saint Louis University, during a Mass Tuesday.

The Mass was co-celebrated by Rev. Thomas Greene, S.J.,  provincial superior of the Jesuits USA Central and Southern Province, and Timothy McMahon, S.J., rector of the Jesuit community of Saint Louis University. 

Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski blesses the altar with Holy Water during the consecration of the Jesuit Center Chapel on October 25, 2022. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski blesses the altar with Holy Water during the consecration of the Jesuit Center Chapel on October 25, 2022. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
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Archbishop. Mitchell T. Rozanski receives the blueprints during the consecration Mass of the Jesuit Center Chapel on October 25, 2022. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Archbishop. Mitchell T. Rozanski receives the blueprints during the consecration Mass of the Jesuit Center Chapel on October 25, 2022. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
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Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski pours chrism to consecrate the altar of the Jesuit Center Chapel on October 25, 2022. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski pours chrism to consecrate the altar of the Jesuit Center Chapel on October 25, 2022. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
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Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski pours chrism to consecrate the altar of the Jesuit Center Chapel on October 25, 2022. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski pours chrism to consecrate the altar of the Jesuit Center Chapel on October 25, 2022. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
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Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski pours chrism to consecrate the altar of the Jesuit Center Chapel on October 25, 2022. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski pours chrism to consecrate the altar of the Jesuit Center Chapel on October 25, 2022. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
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Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski lights a candle to consecrate the altar of the Jesuit Center Chapel on October 25, 2022. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski lights a candle to consecrate the altar of the Jesuit Center Chapel on October 25, 2022. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
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Archbishop. Mitchell T. Rozanski presides over the consecration Mass of the Jesuit Center Chapel on October 25, 2022. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Archbishop. Mitchell T. Rozanski presides over the consecration Mass of the Jesuit Center Chapel on October 25, 2022. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
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Jesuit scholastics of the Bellermine House of Studies singing during the consecration Mass of the Jesuit Center Chapel on October 25, 2022. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Jesuit scholastics of the Bellermine House of Studies singing during the consecration Mass of the Jesuit Center Chapel on October 25, 2022. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
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“I feel like a kid at Christmas to be here surrounded by so many gifts,” Greene said. “It is the gift from the Shaughnessy family, it is a gift to be with my Jesuit brothers and it is a gift to have Archbishop Rozanski here with us. But the greatest gift is the gift of the Eucharist.”

The Chapel’s sanctuary is named for the Shaughnessy Family.

During the Mass, representatives of those involved in the build of the Jesuit Center chapel handed the keys and blueprints over to the Archbishop, to hand over the church. The Archbishop then handed the keys and blueprints to McMahon. 

Following the homily and prayers of dedication, David Suwalsky, S.J., Ph.D., vice president for Mission and Identity at SLU, presented the relics of Roman martyrs Clementis, Irenaei and Libenati and a relic of St. Francis Xavier to the Archbishop before they were placed beneath the altar mensa.

Archbishop Rozanski then led a prayer of dedication and anointed the altar. 

The Chapel of Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, is in the Jesuit Center on the north side of Laclede Ave., just west of Spring Ave., with Fusz Hall to the North and Beracha and Spring Halls to the east.

The chapel and first-floor meeting rooms are open for use by the community. Several student weeknight Masses, previously held in residence halls, have already moved to the new chapel. 

Construction of Saint Louis University’s Jesuit residence was completed over the summer and Jesuits missioned as professors, pastors and staff members at the University moved into the facility beginning Aug. 1.

Saint Louis University

Founded in 1818, Saint Louis University is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious Catholic institutions. Rooted in Jesuit values and its pioneering history as the first university west of the Mississippi River, SLU offers more than 15,200 students a rigorous, transformative education of the whole person. At the core of the University’s diverse community of scholars is SLU’s service-focused mission, which challenges and prepares students to make the world a better, more just place.