Chapel Renovation

January-February 2008 

The sanctuary of the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas will be renovated from January 7 through February 22, 2008.  The renovation was initiated in part by a gift from members of the University's Class of 2004 who gave $5000 towards the design of a crucifix for the chapel.  The crucifix will become a reality through a gift from 1968 graduate James and a 1971 graduate William Hidding in memory of their mother, Betty, who died in the spring of 2007.

The remainder of the extensive sanctuary and chapel renovations will be funded by a $1 million gift from 1954 graduate William Reiling and his wife, Joanne.  Both gifts are part of the "Opening Doors" capital campaign.

The origins of this renovation date from 1998-99 when Msgr. Terrence Murphy commissioned the firm of Rafferty, Rafferty & Tollefson to do an architectural study of the chapel.  That study recommended a number of possible changes including a renovation of the sanctuary and the addition of a crucifix over the altar.

We are very pleased that we could secure as our designers for the renovation Father James Notebaart, a priest of the Archdiocese and a liturgical designer, and Alexander Tylevich, an internationally-known architect and sculptor.  They were the designers of our St. Thomas More Chapel on the Minneapolis campus which has won four national awards.

Please click on the various links on this page to see a video interview with the designers and to read articles about the renovation and on the artists.