Bishop consecrates chapel at Texas A&M Univeristy-Kingsville

Before the ceremony, the doors of the new chapel were closed and locked. Those attending gathered in the Newman Center, which is right outside of the chapel. Bishop Mulvey gathered priests in the main hall and greeted the people before unlocking and opening the doors to the new chapel. The bishop then gave the keys to the chapel to Father John Chavarría who serves chaplain for the Newman Center.

Led by the bishop, behind the cross and accompanied by torches, the people entered the chapel as the choir sang the entrance hymn.  After everyone made their way into the chapel, the bishop blessed the altar and then went throughout the entire chapel to blessing it.

After the Gloria and the Opening Prayer, the lectors Kaitlynd Polly and Marie Zapata approached and knelt before Bishop Mulvey to receive the Lectionary.  Deacon John Joiner proclaimed the Gospel. 

In his homily, Bishop Mulvey said he was moved “almost to tears” when he saw smiles on students’ faces. “I knew we had done the right thing,” he said. “Your faith can be nourished and nurtured here. You can become true evangelizers through the gift of this beautiful center.”

The bishop thanked Father Chavarría and Nina Joiner, campus ministry coordinator, for shepherding the project through its development. He also thanked donors to the Legacy of Faith ~ Future of Hope for their generosity; the university staff; and city and county officials.

The university builds character through education and the church builds the students’ spiritual lives. “It’s the same person we are trying to grow and develop as great citizens of he church and of the country and the world,” Bishop Mulvey said.

The bishop then turned his attention to the students and told them that the first word Jesus spoke to His disciples was “come.”

“That is the theme of this center,” he said. “Come and you will see. Come to hear His word and receive His love through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist.”

People need to be reconciled with God’s body—which is the church—and with each other, he said. He entreated the students to let Christ speak to them, and “He will open your hearts.”

From the very beginning, he said, people have come to a sacred place—a church, a synagogue, a temple or a mosque. “They have something inside of them that needs the divine,” Bishop Mulvey said. “That’s who we are; we need God, we were created for the divine.”

“Deep inside us there is a spirit, there is a soul that longs for God,” Bishop Mulvey said. “This is your place to come to show that you are a child of God. To experience the Lord’s presence.”
He then told students that the last word of Christ was “go.” Jesus told His disciples to “go and preach to all nations; go to be my presence.”

“It will be your responsibility—with all of us—to leave here, to go from here, and proclaim Jesus Christ. That is all I ask of you,” the bishop said. “To proclaim Jesus Christ, to do so above all with your life. By the way that you live, by the way that you serve, by the way that you work, by the way you study, by the way you comport yourself here in this community and in years to come. Go and be Jesus Christ to others.”

Bishop Mulvey said that the St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel is the first church he has consecrated and it would always have a special place in his heart.

After the Bishop's homily, the cantor led the congregation in the Litany of Saints. After the Litany of Saints, Father Chavarría placed relics of St. Thomas Aquinas beneath the altar. After the depositing of the relics, Bishop Mulvey stood at the altar and offered the Prayer of Dedication.

The bishop proceeded to anoint the altar and the walls of the church with the words, "We now anoint this altar and this building. May God in his power make them holy, visible signs of the myste1y of Christ and his church."
The bishop poured chrism oil on the middle of the altar and on each of its four corners and anointed the entire table of the altar with the chrism. He proceeded to the four stations designated for the anointing of the walls.

After the Anointing of the Altar and Walls, the bishop began the Incensation of the Altar and the Church. After the anointing, a brazier—pan holding burning incense and aromatic gums—was placed on the altar. The bishop put incense into the pan saying, "Lord, may our prayers ascend as incense in your sight. As this building is filled with fragrance so may your Church fill the world with the fragrance of Christ."

After the incensation, students brought up the items necessary to dress the altar and sanctuary. As soon as the altar and sanctuary were dressed, the bishop lit taper presented to him by a deacon and then the deacon lit the candles on the altar.

At this point in the consecration ceremony, the Mass was begun. After the distribution of communion, the bishop placed the remaining consecrated hosts in the tabernacle and incensed the Blessed Sacrament before closing the doors of the Tabernacle. 

The bishop then proceeded to bless the Newman Center and dormitory, which was followed by a reception at the Newman Center.

“Today is a powerful example of how a common vision of service to our young people can bring out the best in all of us,” Bishop Mulvey said. “We owe a great deal of gratitude to the many generous donors of the Legacy of Faith ~ Future of Hope, who have given their best to help this vision become a reality.”

Bishop Mulvey expressed gratitude “for the vision, support and collaboration of Texas A&M University-Kingsville and the Zerrusen Family [who financed and built the dormitory].

“I am grateful to all the community members, clergy, volunteers, donors, the university and leadership who have sacrificed greatly to make this day possible. God bless you this evening and may your faith grow rich, and may our diocese become the home and school of communion as we continue together,” Bishop Mulvey said.