Madonna Della Strada Chapel facts for kids
The Madonna della Strada Chapel is a special church building located on the campus of Loyola University Chicago in Rogers Park, Chicago. It's named after a famous painting of the Virgin Mary called Madonna Della Strada. This painting is kept in a very important church in Rome, Italy, called the Church of the Gesù. This church is the main church for the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits.
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The Chapel's Story: How It Was Built
The idea for this chapel came from Father James Mertz, a Jesuit priest. He worked hard to raise the money needed to build it. The Madonna della Strada Chapel is the main chapel on Loyola University Chicago's Lake Shore Campus.
It was built right by Lake Michigan, with the water almost at its front door. The chapel was designed by an architect named Andrew Rebori. He used the popular Art Deco style, which was common in the 1930s. The chapel first opened its doors to the university community in 1938.
Many artists helped create the beautiful decorations inside. One important artist who worked on many pieces was Edgar Miller from Chicago. Some chapels in Latin America were later named after this Chicago chapel. This was done to honor the Jesuit missionaries and students from Loyola University Chicago.
Colorful Stained Glass Windows
The chapel has many amazing stained glass windows. These windows tell stories and represent different parts of the university and the Jesuit mission.
Windows of the Colleges
On the north side of the chapel, there are seven stained glass windows. Each one represents a different college that existed at Loyola University when the chapel was built.
- Saint Thomas Aquinas - Represents the Arts and Sciences
- Saint Luke - Represents Medicine
- Saint Anne and Mary - Represent Nursing
- Saint Thomas More - Represents Law
- Saint Matthew - Represents Business Administration
- Saint Vincent de Paul - Represents Social Work
- Saint Apollonia of Alexandria - Represents Dentistry
Windows of Jesuit Ministries
On the south side of the chapel, there are another seven stained glass windows. These show the main ways the Jesuits serve people.
- Saint Peter Canisius - Represents Education
- Saint Francis Regis - Represents Spiritual Life
- Saint Francis Xavier - Represents Foreign Missions (helping people in other countries)
- Saint Ignatius - Represents The Spiritual Exercises (a special way of praying and reflecting)
- Saint Joseph - Represents Ministry to the Dying (helping people at the end of their lives)
- The Blessed Virgin - Represents the Sodality of Our Lady (a group dedicated to Mary)
- The Sacred Heart - Represents devotion to the heart of Jesus
Chapel Updates and Improvements
The Madonna della Strada Chapel had some big updates between July 2006 and August 2007. During this time, new cooling and ventilation systems were put in. These changes made the chapel more comfortable for everyone who visits.
The Katheryn "Kay" Stamm Memorial Organ
A brand new pipe organ was built and installed in the chapel in 2008. It's called the Katheryn "Kay" Stamm Memorial Organ. This organ is very large and powerful, with 70 different sets of pipes. It has three keyboards and a pedalboard, all played from a special console at the back of the chapel.
The chapel is known for a fun event called the "Midnight Organ Blast." This happens every year at midnight on Halloween and features spooky music. The Loyola University Department of Sacramental Life also hosts free organ concerts. These concerts take place on the third Sunday of each month.
See also
- Madonna Della Strada
