South Chapel renovation uncovers holy relics

April 18, 2012

The South Campus Chapel is undergoing repairs and cosmetic upgrades to afford use by the graduate school and other campus events as needed. Wall repairs, painting, added carpet, wireless service, and new furniture will transform the interior into new open classroom, meeting, or exhibiting space for the community. 

In 2000, Lewis & Clark purchased the property of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia now known as the grad school or South Campus. One of the buildings on that property is the South Campus Chapel formerly known as Our Lady of Angels Convent Chapel. The chapel has been used on occasion for various events. For 12 years, the Lewis & Clark chapel ministry has hosted an ecumenical Taize service every first Friday of the month. People from Vancouver, Salem and the metropolitan area have faithfully attended, along with many Lewis & Clark students. As of May 4, 7:30 p.m., the chapel ministry will host the last Taize prayer service.

With the news of this renovation, Sr. Loretta Schaff, a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia and adjunct Catholic Chaplain since 2000, knew that one thing needed to be taken care of before the secular use of the chapel began and her retirement from Lewis & Clark on June 3 – the removal of a relic in the main altar of the chapel.

A relic is an object of religious veneration (piece of bone or cloth from a saint or martyr). It is common in Catholic and Orthodox Christianity. Also maintained by Buddhists, Muslims and others. The practice of placing a relic in an altar goes back to the early tradition of when Christians celebrated mass in the catacombs on the tombs of martyrs and saints.

On April 12, Sr. Loretta, with the help of Michel George, associate vice president for Facilities and Larry Atchison, facilities manager, removed the relics from the main altar in the South Campus Chapel. The relics are from three lesser-known saints. The relics are pieces bones of three Saints/Martyrs mounted in a medallion. A parchment note, written in Latin, was also included. Sr. Loretta is in dialogue with her congregational leadership to know the proper transfer and place for the relics in the future.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Sr. Loretta, schaff@lclark.edu.

For more information about altar relics check out: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01351d.htm