Mabee Rededication

It was the morning of February 25 when Maureen Henderson got the call: Mabee Chapel was under water.

One of the pipes used to hold water to regulate the temperature of the chapel had burst and there was about two inches of water on the ground. Staff worked quickly to stop the leak and remove whatever they could from the chapel to avoid any further damage.

“From our misfortunate accident, we were given a very great opportunity and it turned out to be a blessing,” said Henderson, director of campus ministry. “We consulted a lot of people before making a decision. We looked at many different aspects such as cost, longevity and durability. We decided it was the right time to give the chapel a facelift.”

For just over a month, contractors and University staff have been working closely to complete the project. University officials wanted to minimize the amount of time the chapel would be closed down and hoped to complete the project by Holy Week.

At noon on April 3, bodies once again filled the chapel as it was back in business for its re-dedication Mass. Many of the visitors oohed and ahhed over the new stone floor, which replaced the soaked carpet.

Henderson said not only did the new floor give the chapel a more modern look, it also did wonders for the acoustics.

“We got a whole lot more than we envisioned,” she said.