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Mother Mary Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger. . .
grounded the congregation
in Eucharist.
(Prologue of You Are Sent, SSND Constitution)
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 On February 11,1960 the property at Via della Stazione Aurelia, 95 was
purchased. Four years later, the general council and generalate house
community moved to their newly constructed but not completed home. In 1966
the dedication of the new Chapel and the blessing of the generalate were
held on October 11. This is the feast day in honor of Mary, Mother of the
Church, the title given to her at the close of Vatican Council II, and the
patronage chosen for this new Chapel. |
Beautiful in its simplicity and simply beautiful
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 The sisters
requested Prof Bruno Appolonj-Ghetti, the architect, to design something in
“beautiful simplicity” that would be “simply beautiful.” They were not
disappointed. The materials used were obtained on the continent of Europe
and the surrounding Mediterranean countries. Most of the marble
for the construction was quarried in Italy and was purchased through A. Pierotti and Company.
Prof. Francesco Nagni, the sculptor of the crucifix, statues and ambos,
used beautiful white Carrara marble from north ern Italy. The corpus on the crucifix is two
meters high and sculptured from a piece of flawless marble.
Onyx from Pakistan was used for the tabernacle.
The rays in the background are made of onyx from Algiers,
Morocco, and Circeo (Lazio, Italy). The white-grey striped border in the
tabernacle door is a rare maritime onyx known as onyx pescatori from Pescara,
Italy. This "fisherman’s” onyx is no longer obtainable.
The main altar is made of Verde tipo Issorie from the Val d'Aosta mountains
in western Italy and represents the "Tree of Life." T he relics in the main
altar are those of St. Barnabas, St. Augustine,
St. Ambrose, St. Lucy, and
St. Maria Goretti.
The statues of St. Joseph the Worker and Mary, Mother of the Church, are
eac h 2.40 meters high, and weigh 1,800 kilos and 2,500 kilos respectively.
Prof. Gilda Nagni, sister of the sculptor, designed the windows above the
side altars which depict scenes from the lives of Mary and Joseph
respectively. The large circular window in the choir loft, and the two
connecting side windows with the long extension, both in the nave and in the
sanctuary complete her work.
Signor Signorelli designed the windows above the marble on sides walls in
the
nave of the chapel.
The pillars are covered with tiny marble chips that were manually
applied in a process called fulgit. More marble from the mountains overlooking
Lake Garda in northern Italy covers the walls and the choir loft.
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Eucharist is the center of our vowed life,
the strongest impetus and
challenge to our community in mission.
(You Are Sent, Constitution 35)
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 The pipe organ was built by the Ruffatti Brothers of Padua, Italy, and was a
gift from the sisters of the Canadian province. It was completed on January
26, 1967, and played for the first time du ring the liturgy on Easter Sunday,
March 26, 1967.
The 1,119 pipes of
the instrument continue to fill the chapel with music for glory and praise
to the Triune God at daily mass at which SSNDs, the sisters from the Jubilee
Community Center and visitors participate.
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The Eucharist is the principal source and
expression of the love and
unity we strive for
in our community and in our world. (You Are Sent,
Constitution 33)
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The
city of Rome is a city of walls and gates required by law. Behind these
walls and gates are wonders and beauty that stir the soul of the visitor.
Our gate opens readily to all who approach it and the doors to our chapel
swing wide in welcome to those who wish to participate in daily Eucharist with
us or to join in community prayer at Vespers or to pray in quiet stillness
before the Blessed Sacrament.
The Lord God dwells within.
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Copyright © 2005 by SSND
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Last updated:09 June 2008
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