2008 Woodie Awards
Father Shanley blesses Dominican Center
Jennifer Jarvis '07
Issue date: 9/15/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
"Lord, give us the spirit of wisdom." This was the response to the prayers proclaimed outside the new Center for Catholic and Dominican Studies yesterday, Sept. 13, at the Center's rite of dedication and blessing following the Mass of the Holy Spirit.
After the 4:00 Mass, celebrated by Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., president of Providence College, and concelebrated by members of the Dominican community, the occupants of St. Dominic Chapel processed to the doorway of the Center for Catholic and Dominican Studies. Father Shanley stood in the doorway to the Center, facing the Chapel as he reminded the community that the Center was meant to help in "maintaining, enhancing, and promoting the distinctive mission of Providence College as a Catholic and Dominican college."
Although Father Shanley said he could not name everyone who had helped in the completion of the Center, he publicly thanked Rev. Phillip A. Smith, O.P., former president of Providence College, under whose administration the idea arose. In addition, Father Shanley mentioned the large donations of the Class of 1955, and the work of Mark Rapoza, director of capital projects and facilities planning.
Father Shanley alluded to "issues with the door" to the Center in the final hours of preparation before the dedication, but he used this as a segue to commenting on the door's symbolism. Because the door of the Center faces the door of St. Dominic Chapel, Father Shanley spoke of the harmony between faith and reason.
"What we believe [in the Chapel] is perfectly in harmony with what else we study on this campus," he said, adding that PC's wish for its students is that they find "the ability to walk from what they believe to what they think."
The Center for Catholic and Dominican Studies was the former site of Aquinas Chapel, the College's main student chapel from 1938 to 2001. After blessing the Center, Father Shanley showed his satisfaction with the renovations.
"We struggled to figure out how we could use that sacred space, and boy, we hit the jackpot," he said. The inside of the Center maintains some of the décor of a chapel, though the pews have been replaced with sofas, chairs, tables, and bookcases. According to the Mass program, the Center "is meant to serve as a place of intellectual exploration and dialogue where students, faculty, staff, administration and alumni can gather for study, discussion, reflection, and service."
"It's really beautiful in there," said Katie Collins '07.
After the blessing of the Center, Father Shanley blessed the Statue of St. Dominic-sculpted by Rev. Thomas McGlynn, O.P., in 1978-which was moved from in front of Dominic House to between the Chapel and Dominic House to link the two buildings bearing the saint's name, Father Shanley said.
"I feel like no one really noticed it [before] and now it's just a reminder to everyone of our Catholic and Dominican heritage," said Bethany Bourdon '08.
After the 4:00 Mass, celebrated by Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., president of Providence College, and concelebrated by members of the Dominican community, the occupants of St. Dominic Chapel processed to the doorway of the Center for Catholic and Dominican Studies. Father Shanley stood in the doorway to the Center, facing the Chapel as he reminded the community that the Center was meant to help in "maintaining, enhancing, and promoting the distinctive mission of Providence College as a Catholic and Dominican college."
Although Father Shanley said he could not name everyone who had helped in the completion of the Center, he publicly thanked Rev. Phillip A. Smith, O.P., former president of Providence College, under whose administration the idea arose. In addition, Father Shanley mentioned the large donations of the Class of 1955, and the work of Mark Rapoza, director of capital projects and facilities planning.
Father Shanley alluded to "issues with the door" to the Center in the final hours of preparation before the dedication, but he used this as a segue to commenting on the door's symbolism. Because the door of the Center faces the door of St. Dominic Chapel, Father Shanley spoke of the harmony between faith and reason.
"What we believe [in the Chapel] is perfectly in harmony with what else we study on this campus," he said, adding that PC's wish for its students is that they find "the ability to walk from what they believe to what they think."
The Center for Catholic and Dominican Studies was the former site of Aquinas Chapel, the College's main student chapel from 1938 to 2001. After blessing the Center, Father Shanley showed his satisfaction with the renovations.
"We struggled to figure out how we could use that sacred space, and boy, we hit the jackpot," he said. The inside of the Center maintains some of the décor of a chapel, though the pews have been replaced with sofas, chairs, tables, and bookcases. According to the Mass program, the Center "is meant to serve as a place of intellectual exploration and dialogue where students, faculty, staff, administration and alumni can gather for study, discussion, reflection, and service."
"It's really beautiful in there," said Katie Collins '07.
After the blessing of the Center, Father Shanley blessed the Statue of St. Dominic-sculpted by Rev. Thomas McGlynn, O.P., in 1978-which was moved from in front of Dominic House to between the Chapel and Dominic House to link the two buildings bearing the saint's name, Father Shanley said.
"I feel like no one really noticed it [before] and now it's just a reminder to everyone of our Catholic and Dominican heritage," said Bethany Bourdon '08.