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“God is with us in the Word and in the Eucharist”
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October 10, 2023A moment of anticipation, beautiful chants and music, incense, the Word of God and His presence in the Eucharist: The Emmanuel Chapel underneath the Corpus Christi Cathedral is again a place of worship – and a truly beautiful one!
The celebration started in the St. Joseph’s Hall. Bishop Michael Mulvey opened the chapel, and the participants entered in a solemn profession. The altar and the chapel walls were sprinkled with Holy Water as a sign of purification.
Bishop Mulvey thanked everyone involved in this renovation project, from the chancery staff, the designer Michael Raia and the priests who served at the Cathedral to the donors who made it possible and the workers who carried it out. “The name Emmanuel should be a highlight – this is God’s chapel; he is with us in the Eucharist and the Word,” he said in his homily.
The altar contains relics given to the bishop by the sister of Msgr. Richard Shirley after his passing – relics of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. John Neumann, St. Pope Pius X, St. Charbel and St. John Vianney. “These martyrs and saints are with us; we are never alone.” Referring to the new statues, he stated that besides Mary, the seat of wisdom, there is also St. Joseph, who taught Jesus to work: “God has become one of us, to help us to do all human endeavors well.”
The tabernacle recalls Fra Angelico’s painting of the Annunciation, Mary’s words, “Let it be done to me according to thy word.” In the back of the chapel, there are the tombs of the first four bishops of the diocese, reminding the importance of a bishop for a diocese, as described in St. Paul’s letter to Timothy, admonishing bishops and every Christian to set an example.
After the liturgy of the Word, the altar was anointed with Chrism and a brazier with burning incense was placed on it. At the same time, the bishop said, “Let our prayer rise, oh Lord, like incense in your sight, and as this house is filled with a pleasing fragrance, so let your Church be fragrant with the aroma of Christ.”
The altar was dressed for the first celebration of the Eucharist in the renovated chapel, and afterward, the Eucharist was placed into the new tabernacle. The Chapel is now complete again.
According to Fr. James Stembler, Vicar General of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, 7:00 am Mass will be in the Emmanuel Chapel every morning, Monday through Friday. “On Wednesdays, there will be Adoration following Mass until 5:00 p.m.,” says Fr. Stembler. “This time will depend on how many people sign up for Adoration as well as other events as scheduled.”
