Chapel of Our Lady

The Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes, dedicated in 1933, was made possible by a generous contribution from an anonymous donor. This chapel replaced a very small chapel, which the campus had used since its opening in 1919. The Chapel of Our Lady features beautiful late Italian Renaissance architecture, such as stained glass windows, bronze and wood working, as well as marble and stone from France, Germany, Greece, and Italy.

The donor was a woman from New York City and friend of Rev. Patrick O’Gorman, S.J. She wished for her gift to remain anonymous because it was her special way of honoring the Lord. Her only request was for the chapel to be dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes.

The construction of the chapel took place in the early 1930’s, during the Great Depression. Since the country was in a state of economic turmoil, there was a fear that the funds would run out before the chapel was completed. The actual cost of $400,000, necessary for the building funds, was double the estimated cost of $200,000.

The donor specified the architect, style and name, compromising only on the red brick exterior to match Prep’s existing structures. The architect was Maginnis and Walsh, leading church architects of the time located in Boston. The stained glass windows which are superb were designed by Italian artist Nicola D’Ascenzo of Philadelphia and executed by craftsmen in Germany. The stations of the cross of Trani marble are by Lvaldi of Florence.

The exterior base is Maryland granite and upper stone is Indiana limestone. The interior’s most impressive feature is its almost solid marble construction. Upper walls are of Caen stone from France but all else, including all of the sanctuary. All of the marble is European but of different colors and origins. The majority including lower walls and floor are dark Botticino, nave columns are red Rouge de Rance from Belgium. Much of the sanctuary and columns are Alps green marble with the rarest marble being the yellow Siena in the medallion of the altar and the red Numidia marble of the sanctuary floor. The doors are solid bronze as is the Baldachin over the altar. Of interesting architectural note are the Egyptian style capitals on the columns in the sanctuary, echoing the King Tut craze of the times also seen on the capitals of Boland Hall.

Chapel Bells

Over the years, benefactors have provided the chapel with additional items, including statues of the Virgin Mary and the Little Flower in 1934, and a brass processional cross and brass crucifix in 1935.

Today, the chapel seats approximately 500 people. Mass is held daily during the school year and is open to all students and faculty.

The Chapel Bells first rang on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes (February 11) in 1938. The set of bells was selected by Rev. Fr. Rector and Rev. Patrick O’Gorman, S.J., and was purchased from the McShane Bell Foundry in Baltimore.

There are five bells that can be heard ringing on Prep’s campus: the St. Catherine Bell, Mary Bell, John the Baptist Bell, Gabriel Bell, and Angel’s Bell.

The bells ring every day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the hour and quarter hour. The Angelus is also observed daily, as bells ring at 7 a.m., 12 p.m., and 6 p.m.