After almost 10 years of planning, the chapel on University Boulevard has finally transformed from an idea into a reality. Catholic Campus Ministry’s newly constructed St. John Bosco Chapel will be dedicated on Oct. 28.
Compared to the former chapel, this chapel will feature various improvements. It will be handicap accessible, offer more room for activities and will not face the maintenance issues that plagued the older building. The new building will be able to seat 215 people in the chapel area and can be adjusted to fit even more.
The contributions of AM management, donations from benefactors, grants and the profits from a land sale to Wright State University helped finance the nearly $1.2 million dollar structure. Opportunities to donate to the new chapel still exist.
The multifaceted chapel will be home to more than mass, which takes place Sundays at 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. The building will also house Bible studies and function as a “home base” for the local and international mission trips taking place.
Father Edward Burns, the Director of Catholic Campus Ministry at Wright State, expressed his desire that it would be “a ministry to the whole university regardless of their religious affiliation.”
Father Burns hopes the chapel will provide a quiet place for students to go and relax or simply talk about life issues. Since many of the people comprising the staff of Catholic Campus Ministry do have degrees in Theology, he welcomes anyone to come and discuss religion.
Father Burns also communicated his hopes for the future usage of the facility as a place available for other Christian groups on campus as well as the possible reinstatement of the faculty lunches. One of the goals for the new chapel is “to provide adequate, accessible facilities for our students and the University community as a whole.”
