Christendom College’s New Christ the King Chapel Dedicated

Christendom College’s new Christ the King Chapel was dedicated by Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington on Saturday, April 15, with Francis Cardinal Arinze in attendance. The chapel — which seats 544 people — was filled to capacity with alumni priests, faculty, staff, and the hundreds of generous benefactors who made the chapel a reality, resulting in a beautiful space that will raise the hearts and minds of all who enter to God.

Christendom College currently has over 500 students, with a growing enrollment necessitating the construction project to replace the college’s existing chapel. The new chapel, which features a 116-foot crossing tower that is visible from Interstate 66, is much larger and grander than its predecessor, with the building designed by architectural firm O’Brien & Keene.

Christendom first publicly began fundraising for the new chapel in 2016, launching the multimillion dollar A Call to Greatness campaign — the most ambitious financial campaign in the history of the college. Christendom raised money for the college’s endowment fund, annual fund, and for the chapel, completing the campaign in 2018. Led by the college’s Vice President for Operations and Planning Mike Foeckler and Chapel Project Manager Pat Haggerty, the college broke ground on the new chapel in 2019. Construction continued over the next four years, with Hoar Construction serving as the General Contractor for the project.

Inspired by the Gothic cathedrals of Europe, the chapel features beautiful interior work from several alumni artisans; a 2,850-pipe organ designed, installed, and voiced by Kegg Pipe Organ Builders; a restored High Altar and four side shrines by Rugo Stone; 12 bells from McShane Bell Company that reside in the chapel’s twin bell towers; and stained-glass windows from Beyer Studio. The Piazza of Christ the King sits outside the chapel, which will serve as a place of community and Catholic culture.

The weekend began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the chapel on Friday, April 14, attended by Senator Rick Santorum, members of the Front Royal Board of Supervisors and Town Council, and others. Senator Santorum, who served on the college’s 45th Anniversary Gala Celebration Honorary Committee, delivered remarks before the ribbon-cutting, speaking to the importance of well-educated and virtuous leaders and the contribution of Christendom alumni to the common good.

“Christendom stands in my mind as a gem — inculcating virtue into young people and teaching them what the good life and a happy life really is all about: a life oriented toward the true, the good and the beautiful, and oriented thereby to God,” said Santorum. “This chapel is the lampstand that’s showing the light of Christendom to this valley, to the people driving by, and for others who will see and hear about this institution, because of the beauty and wonder and spectacular-ness of this chapel.”

College President Dr. Timothy O’Donnell delivered remarks to close the ceremony, looking back to the roots of the college and towards the future impact of the chapel on Christendom and on the entire Front Royal and Northern Virginia community.

“It’s by going back to our roots and our foundation that we can find the way forward now for our country, for our society,” said O’Donnell. “Everything from the spires that you see rising up above, pointing to Heaven, to the gothic crossing tower, all of those windows and arches inside the building point us to where we’re all destined: towards Heaven. I hope that here in the chapel, each of you, when you enter inside, will encounter beauty. It’s my hope that each person who enters the chapel will encounter Christ and His super abundant presence, His anticipated presence as the Bread of Life in the beautiful life of His mother, and also in the lives of so many great saints that will surround and fill up the clerestory windows. I hope that all who enter this college chapel will feel the richness of our common patrimony that we have as human beings and as Christians and recognize the incredible heritage that is ours.”

Mrs. Anne Carroll, the wife of the college’s late founder, Dr. Warren H. Carroll, was then welcomed forward to cut the ribbon for the chapel with O’Donnell, Santorum, and Chairman of the Board Stephen O’Keefe. Together, they cut the ribbon, officially opening Christ the King Chapel to the public.

On Friday evening, Cardinal Arinze blessed the new Piazza of Christ the King and led Solemn Vespers in the chapel.

Following Vespers, O’Donnell thanked all those who made the new chapel possible and read a letter from the late Pope Benedict XVI, who blessed the cornerstone of the chapel in 2008. In his letter, which the college received a few months prior to his passing, Pope Benedict expressed his joy at the completion of the chapel and his prayer that the chapel be an outward expression of Christ’s Kingship here on Earth.

“As I had the privilege to bless the cornerstone for the new chapel, it fills me with joy that this beautiful Church is now almost completed and will be consecrated and dedicated to Christ the King in the coming year,” wrote Pope Benedict in May of 2022. “It is my wish, and my prayer, that this chapel may be a visible expression that the truth and love of Christ continue to animate, to guide, and to distinguish the activities in Christendom College. Invoking God’s abundant blessings upon you, the professors, students, and staff of Christendom College, I am fraternally yours in Christ.”

On Saturday afternoon, prior to the beginning of the Mass of Dedication, Bishop Burbidge, Cardinal Arinze, College Chaplain Fr. Marcus Pollard, Associate Chaplain Fr. Mark Fusco, and over 30 alumni priests processed from the college’s old chapel to the new Christ the King Chapel. Upon arrival, the plans, deed, and keys to the chapel were handed over to Bishop Burbidge, who then requested Fr. Pollard to unlock and open the chapel doors, officially beginning the Mass of Dedication.

The clergy, along with the entire congregation, then processed into the chapel, with the college’s choir triumphantly welcoming all inside. To begin the Mass, Bishop Burbidge sprinkled the walls of the chapel with Holy Water and said the Prayer of Dedication, with the Ordinaries of the Mass following.

During his homily, Bishop Burbidge congratulated the college community and its many benefactors on this beautiful accomplishment.

“We rejoice in this magnificent day that the Lord has given to us,” said Bishop Burbidge. “We rejoice as we celebrate the 45th anniversary of Christendom College, a treasure within the Diocese of Arlington, and indeed a precious gift to the entire Church. We rejoice as we dedicate this beautiful, glorious new chapel, a fitting dwelling place for the Lord. In building this glorious chapel, we announce the praises of God our Father and of Christ, King of the Universe. I express sincere congratulations and deep appreciation to your president, Dr. O’Donnell, and extend my heartfelt gratitude to you, the members and benefactors of this college, who supported this endeavor. Together, with the grace of God, you have built this new Chapel of Christ the King. It is a very proud day for this diocese and this community.”

Following the homily, Bishop Burbidge anointed the Altar of Sacrifice with sacred chrism oil and then proceeded to anoint the walls of the chapel. The altar and the chapel were then incensed and lit, with college staff cleansing the altar and dressing it with linen. The rest of the Mass followed, with the choir singing a glorious rendition of “O God Beyond All Praising” to close the Mass.

While the college’s many benefactors, along with faculty and staff, were able to attend the Mass in-person, others around the globe were also able to watch the Mass on EWTN. Following the Mass, all present went to a high-top tent next to the chapel for the college’s 45th Anniversary Gala to celebrate this historic moment for the college. A fireworks display filled the sky above the college as well, commemorating the occasion in spectacular fashion.

On Sunday, the college community gathered in Christ the King Chapel for the first community Mass, celebrated by Cardinal Arinze. In his homily, Cardinal Arinze pointed to the beauty of God’s mercy, poured out upon Christendom over the course of the weekend.

“We remain in deep gratitude to God for this jewel that is our new chapel,” said Cardinal Arinze. “May all, through the help of this chapel, remain faithful to the Catholic Faith and united to the Magisterium of the Church. May the Eucharistic and other liturgical celebrations in this chapel promote their Christian charity and communion with one another. May their Christian lives be powerfully nourished by all gatherings connected with this place of worship.”

The college wishes to thank the many contractors, artists, consultants, and benefactors who made Christ the King Chapel possible. Without their time, effort, and tremendous sacrifice, this heroic symbol of Christ’s Kingship would not be complete.

To read the Dedication Booklet, which features remarks from Bishop James Conley, Bishop Charles Chaput, Fr. Robert Spitzer, Mother Assumpta Long, Mrs. Mary Ellen Bork, and others, visit here.

To see pictures from the Mass of Dedication, visit here.

To see all videos from Christendom’s Dedication Weekend, visit here.

To watch the full Mass of Dedication, visit here.