Nine New Shrines Dedicated

On April 15, 2007 the St. Rita Monastery Community hosted a dedication mass to celebrate and bless the nine new shrines that are present along the chapel walls.  The celebration was amazing.  The event unveiled the beauty of seven mosaics and two sculptures while truly capturing the importance of intercession through the saints.  The dedication was celebrated by Bishop John Michael Botean, the Romanian Catholic Bishop of the United States and friend of the Augustinians.  Bishop John Michael blessed each shrine individually by anointing the image with Holy Chrism, a magnificent and elaborate blessing unlike many of us attending has ever seen before.  The celebration concluded with a gathering of all present, in the dining hall for breakfast.

The nine new shrines depict the images of St. Patrick, St. Francis Xavier Cabrini, Pope John Paul II and Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, St. Monica, St. Martin de Porres, Our Mother of Good Counsel, and Our Lady Of Czestochowa.  Each shrine was donated, and each donor chose saints, and images that have special meaning in their hearts but also represent the different facets of St. Rita High School and our faith community.  The bottom of each mosaic and sculpture is an engraved biography of the person. The mosaics were meticulously crafted out of hand cut Italian glass by artist Joe Folise and the iron sculptures were a product of Evan Lewis Studios. Overseeing the artistic design was Jim Rouen, of Unreal in Chicago .

St. Rita Chapel has always been the national Shrine of the Midwest devoted to the veneration of our patroness, St. Rita.  Now, our Chapel is a place for your spiritual pilgrimage to reflect upon the lives of St. Rita, along with many other saints.  Let us continue to pray for their intercession and look at their lives for guidance in our own. We are excited to announce that two more shrines will be ready to be dedicated next fall, St. Augustine and Our Lady of Guadalupe.