The Fr. Jim Wilmoth Chapel of the Sacred Heart Welcome! Construction of the Chapel began in the summer of 2009 with the pouring of the footers for the Chapel tower. The first Mass in the new Chapel was celebrated by Fr. Jim Wilmoth on April 19, 2010. The Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was named in memory and appreciation of the wonderful work and dedication of the people who were a part of Sacred Heart Parish and Sacred Heart Central High School. Both are the parents of many families and parishes that now constitute the South Deanery of Indianapolis. Many people have contributed to the building of this Chapel and all who will worship here for many years to come are most grateful for the generosity and kindness of those benefactors. The spiritual impact and fruit of the construction of this Chapel will be felt for many generations to come.
A view from behind the Water Garden.
CHAPEL EXTERIOR For many years we have focused on increasing the visible Catholic identity of Roncalli High School. By putting the Chapel in a position on Campus that is clearly front and center we hope that we are reminding all who come that our Catholic faith is at the center of all that we do here at Roncalli. We looked at many different types of Church designs before selecting a style that was undoubtedly traditionally Catholic in its architecture. The Bell Tower The most striking feature of the Chapel is the bell tower. Traditionally, the bell tower rising to heaven serves an architectural purpose in that it focuses the building and all in it towards the heavens. The tower also serves a practical purpose in raising the bell above all surrounding structures so that the sound from the bell can carry in all directions. The tower is topped by the cross that was on the original Bishop Chartrand High School building. The Bell For centuries bells have called the faithful to worship, rang out in the celebration of the new life that comes with a wedding, and signified transitions to the next world through the funeral toll. The 2,600 pound bronze bell in the Chapel tower was forged in St. Louis in 1882. It was then shipped to Leadville, Colorado where it served as the bell for the schoolhouse in this once booming mining town. The Statue of the Blessed Virgin Since the words of Jesus just before his death, Son, behold thy mother the Church has recognized the motherhood of Mary in the affairs of men and women. Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord. Be it done unto me as you have said. Through her words at the annunciation, Mary recognized and accepted the many hardships she would bear in her role as the New Eve and as the Mother of all humanity. This particular statue of the Blessed Mother is known as The Welcoming Virgin. The Water Garden The image of water as a source of spiritual cleansing and life is listed throughout the Scriptures and Traditions of our faith. Moses led the Israelites through the waters of the Red Sea, a foreshadowing of the sacrament of baptism in which we are immersed in the water and emerge as new creatures in Christ. God quenched the Israelite s thirst while wandering in the parched desert by making water flow from a rock in the time of their great need. Jesus changed the water into wine as his first recorded public miracle and later told the woman at the well that he could give her living water to drink and that she would never thirst. This Water Garden, placed next to the statue of the Blessed Virgin, reminds us of all these things and the role her son has in these life-giving promises of God. The stark rock landscape evokes a memory of this desert environment through which we all must travel during the more challenging times in our lives. Christ is always there to give us refreshment and allows us to drink of His streams of living water if we but ask. The Water Garden is a gift provided by many special activities of the Roncalli student body. From Campaign Cookie sales, to Faculty Senior football and basketball games, from individual student gifts to special Student Council projects the students raised over $20,000 for this area and the Garden of Life area in front of the auditorium entrance. Thank you Rebels!!!!
Vestibule CHAPEL INTERIOR Vestibule At the entrance of the vestibule, a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus has been placed along with a painting of Pope John Roncalli XXIII. A painting of the Holy Family also graces one wall of the vestibule. The inside architecture is reminiscent of Italian Renaissance architecture with the arches in the windows and in the ceiling. The center panels of the ceiling are acoustical fabric to assure proper sound. The lighting gives a fine sense of inner church decor and has an infinite number of settings to match the need for each individual liturgy. STAINED GLASS WINDOWS The Eucharistic Window The center window directly behind the altar is named The Eucharistic Window. This image of Jesus is from a well known painting entitled Come to Me. The wheat and grapes in the window reminds us of the common elements of the Eucharist. The emboldened host and chalice in the foreground reminds us of the centrality of the body and blood of Jesus Christ which is the source and summit of our Faith. The image of the Jerusalem Cross in the window honors and respects the tradition of the Christian Awakening Retreat in which most of our seniors participate. This uniquely shaped image features a cross in the middle which symbolizes that Christ is the center of our lives. The four quadrants of the central cross each contain a smaller cross which represents each Christian s call to spread the Gospel to the four corners of the earth. The Eucharistic Window was chosen to be placed directly behind the Altar upon which the Paschal Mystery is recalled each time Mass is celebrated. Eucharistic Window/ Salute to Our Founders Salute to Our Founders Above the Eucharistic Window are three smaller windows reflecting the symbols of the three high schools that were the forerunners of what is now Roncalli High School. The window in the center is the Sacred Heart which is the symbol of Sacred Heart Central High School; to the left is the Eternal Flame of Kennedy Memorial High School; to the right is the Fleur de Lis of Bishop Chartrand High School. These symbols have long been used in the shield that currently serves as the Roncalli High School logo.
The Images of the Holy Ones Each of the other stained glass windows have a significance to the Roncalli Family. There are three Religious Communities of women who have been a part of Sacred Heart Central, Bishop Chartrand, Kennedy Memorial, and Roncalli High Schools. They are the Sisters of Providence, the Sisters of St. Joseph and the Sisters of St. Benedict. Hence, the window of St. Theodora, the foundress of the Sisters of Providence, the window of St. Joseph, and the mural of St. Benedict. There is a shield at the base of each window with symbols of the life of each saint. Working in a clockwise fashion starting from the Eucharistic Window are the following: Sacred Heart of Jesus This window was crafted because this image of Jesus is the namesake of our Chapel and a symbol of Love poured out for all people. The devotion to the Sacred Heart was spread by St. Mary Margeret Alacoque after a series of visions she had in the 17th Century. In August of 2010 the faculty and administration of Roncalli consecrated themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in this very Chapel. The shield depicts both the crown of thorns and the chalice. Both of these images remind us of the ways in which Christ, because of His great love for us, poured out His blood to set us free from our sins. Sacred Heart of Jesus St. Maria Goretti - The patron Saint of Teenage Girls - St. Maria was born in Corinaldo, Italy in1890. Her father died of malaria and her mother had to struggle to feed her children. In 1902 an eighteen-year-old neighbor, Alexander, grabbed her from the steps and tried to rape her. When Maria said that she would rather die than submit, Alexander began stabbing her with a knife. As she lay in the hospital, she forgave Alexander before she died. Her death didn t end her forgiveness, however. Alexander was captured and sentenced to thirty years. He was unrepentant until he had a dream that he was in a garden. Maria was there and gave him flowers. When he woke, he was a changed man, repenting of his crime and living a reformed life. When he was released after 27 years he went directly to Maria s mother to beg her forgiveness, which she gave. If my daughter can forgive him, who am I to withhold forgiveness, she said. The shield represents the lily of purity, the virtue which St. Maria most boldly exemplified, and the dagger by which she died a martyr for her faith. St. Maria Goretti
St. John Bosco St. John Bosco - The patron Saint of Teenage Boys - As part of his ministry as a priest, St. John Bosco was the chaplain of the Rifugio ( Refuge ), a girls boarding school in Turin, Italy but he had many ministries on the side such as visiting prisoners, teaching catechism and assisting in country parishes. A growing group of boys would come to the Rifugio on Sundays and feast days to play and learn their catechism. They were too old to join the younger children in regular catechism classes in the parishes, who mostly chased them away. This was the beginning of the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales. After only two months based in the church of St. Martin, the entire neighborhood expressed its annoyance with the noise coming from the boys at play. Rumors circulated that the meetings conducted by the priest with his boys were dangerous; their recreation could be turned into a revolution against the government. The group was evicted. In 1846 Bosco rented a shed on the north end of town. This served as the oratory s home. His mother moved in with him and in 1847, he and Mamma Margherita began taking in orphans. The shield contains a rose with both the beautiful flowers and the thorns representing the bittersweet nature of St. John s ministry. Pope John Paul II - Known to many as John Paul the Great, Pope John Paul II always had great love and respect for the power of young people to give life to the Church. Under his leadership, the second longest pontificate in history, the Church produced a new Catechism now used throughout the world, brought about the fall of the Communist empire, and was so well traveled around the world that it is generally agreed that no one in the history of humankind was personally seen by so many people. The dark blue shield is the Coat of Arms adopted by John Paul II. The cross in the shield signifies the commitment of his life to carry the cross of Christ to the world. To the lower right of the cross is the large M which signifies the Pope s dedication to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in helping him accomplish his work. Pope John Paul II
St. Peregrine - The Patron Saint of Cancer Patients - He was born in Forlì, Italy in the year 1260. Once, the Pope sent a special representative, Saint Philip Benzi, to Forli to speak to the people of the city. At first, things went well and the people listened. Then, Peregrine showed up with his gang of troublemakers and they drove Saint Philip from the pulpit. Peregrine went further than all of them and slapped Saint Philip in the face. Saint Philip offered the other cheek and forgave him. Peregrine was so full of remorse that he went back to Saint Philip and apologized. After this, Peregrine abandoned his gang and spent much time in prayer. Mary once appeared to him and directed him to go to Siena. There he joined the Servants of Mary. The superior who received him was Saint Philip Benizi. One of the special penances he decided on was to stand whenever it was not necessary to sit. It is said that St. Peregrine did not sit for thirty years, which caused him to develop varicose veins and then cancer on his leg and foot. Doctors prepared to amputate his foot, but the night before the surgery was scheduled to take place Peregrine dragged himself to the foot of a crucifix and spent many hours in prayer. When he fell asleep he received a vision of Christ touching his foot. In the morning his foot was completely healed. The shield depicts the crucifix because St. Peregrine chose to seek healing at the foot of the cross. The blood red background reminds us of the pain and suffering throughout humanity and that we all are in need of some type of healing. St. Peregrine St. Joseph the Worker This window was crafted in memory of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet who staffed the parish and school of Sacred Heart Central. Once Roncalli was established in 1969 the Sisters came here and continued with their teaching ministry up until the departure of Sr. Victoria Brush in 2002. St. Joseph is seen as the model father not only protecting his wife, the mother of Jesus, but also, through the work of his hands, providing for the needs of the Holy Family. The shield is shown with a lily that is associated with St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, through an ancient legend that he was so chosen from among other men by the blossoming of his staff like a lily. Likewise, the biblical passage, The just man shall blossom like the lily is applied to St. Joseph in the liturgy of the Church. Thus, in religious art the lily is used as an emblem of St. Joseph. St. Joseph the Worker
St. Mother Theodore Guerin She was the foundress of the Sisters of Providence and St. Mary of the Woods College. Mother Theodore came to Indiana at the request of Bishop Simon Brute when it had only a few towns as outposts throughout a heavily forested wilderness. She was a true pioneer and a servant of the Gospel. Mother Theodore was canonized in 2006. The Sisters of Providence served the Roncalli community for over forty years. The shield represents the Coat of Arms of the Diocese of Vincennes in 1840, the original outpost of the Church in Indiana. St. Mother Theodore Guerin Pope John Roncalli XXIII - He was chosen because he is namesake of our school. His feast day is celebrated on October 11th each year. He was given that day because the first session of Vatican II began on October 11, 1961. Pope John s calling of the Council was one of the most unexpected and significant events of his pontificate. The shield represents the Coat of Arms of Roncalli with the lion representing his days as Cardinal Archbishop of Venice and the tower of Bergamo, Italy which was his birthplace. Pope John Roncalli XXIII Statue of St. Joseph Statue of St. Joseph - This statue was given as a gift by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet who were part of the founding of Sacred Heart Central High School. They maintained their service to the Roncalli community through the year 2002. The statue originally resided in the Sisters convent and is made of pure marble.
The Murals Our Lady of Fatima - The mural on the south wall of the Chapel is a scene of the apparition of Our Lady of Fatima to three Portuguese children in 1918. It is a copy of a picture entitled Our Lady of Fatima. The image represents the native Mexican appearance of both the three visionaries and the Blessed Mother. St. Benedict - The mural on the east wall near the back of our Chapel is the scene of St. Benedict writing his famed Rule of St. Benedict in the year 534 at Monte Cassino, Italy. The Sisters of St. Benedict are still actively serving at Roncalli today. Crucifix on the North Wall - The Corpus of the Crucifix is hand carved wood and created in Italy. The Corpus is placed on an oaken cross. The Stations of the Cross - The stations were selected primarily because they are the Stations that once hung in St. James Church. St. James was one of the original parishes that provided students and financial support to Bishop Chartrand High School and later Roncalli. St. James has now been converted to Central Catholic Grade School. Ciborium - Within the tabernacle is the ciborium which contains the Body of Christ. This very special golden ciborium was given to the Sisters of Providence by the then Reverend Joseph Chartrand in 1905. The ciborium was refurbished with a new gold finish and then given to the Chapel as a gift. Flooring - The flooring is porcelain tile manufactured in Italy, the homeland of Pope John Roncalli. The Roncalli High School shield in front of the altar is made of terrazzo. Altar Woodwork - The front of the altar features a handcarved wooden image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This was carved for the original communion rail at St. Roch Catholic Church. The rail was later taken out of the Church after changes made during the Second Vatican Council. This hand-made piece was preserved and later given to Roncalli by the parish as a gift for the Chapel.
RONCALLI FAMILY WORKMANSHIP There were many who worked to complete this Chapel. More than a few donated some or all of their services to its completion. We would like to recognize those who contributed their services to this project. General Supervision - The Chapel was built by Summit Construction owned by Mr. Larry Fleck who is a parishioner of St. Roch. Mr. Kevin Hurley (R 78) Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds and Mr. Dave Gervasio (R 85) Business Manager were the school s skillful representatives in the supervision of the construction process. Architects - The architectual design was provided by entheos Architects, Michael Eagan (R 77), owner. Flooring - The Roncalli High School shield in front of the altar is made of terrazzo and was donated by Mr. David Santarossa whose company laid the tile for the entire floor. Chapel Furniture - The altar, ambo, chairs, tabernacle stand, holy water stand and pews were all made by the William Hermann Company of Indianapolis. Each is handcrafted from oak. Trim Carpentry - Roncalli Dean of Students Tim Puntarelli and his son Tony Snyder (R 00) provided the trim carpentry throughout the Chapel. Sacristy Cabinetry - Cabinet work in the sacristy was completed by Mr. Jim Huser (C 69). Painting - The general painting of the Chapel was performed by Mr. Dave Jahnke (R 84). The faux painting on the interior walls of the Chapel was completed by St. Roch secretary Julie McGuire. Murals - Both of these murals were painted by artist Angie Walters Samuelson (R 94). Heating, Electrical, and Air-conditioning - This work was performed by former Roncalli parent Greg Schaub and his firm, EM Company. Concrete work for the Blessed Virgin Statue - This work was completed by Mr. Frank Rizzi (R 74). Materials for the floor - Jobsite Supply owner and Roncalli parent Mr. Pete Molloy provided steel for the foundation and reinforcement of the floor. Landscaping - The general landscaping of the Chapel, along with the new entrance and the administrative wing was designed by Mr. Jeff Mader (R 93) owner of Mader Designs. Water Garden - The design and installation of the Water Garden was done by Mr. Darren Wittry (R 83) owner of Ambiance Gardens. Holy Family Painting - This framed painting was done by Mrs. Barb Huser R 70.