St.
Andrew School opens a window into faith
By NADIA MARIA SMITH
CS&T Staff Writer
Fostering prayer in the students of St. Andrew School in Newtown has just
become easier with the school’s recently completed school chapel.
The final piece? A custom-made, 6-by-7.5 foot stained-glass window depicting
the Holy Family, in the wall to the right of the altar.
The window overlooks the school parking lot, and had been covered by a
curtain to block out distractions. Now the window itself adds to the chapel’s
prayerful, contemplative ambiance, according to principal Nancy Matteo.
With that final piece in place, the chapel is complete, and she can’t
be happier with the outcome of its renovation.
“If you had seen the old school store, you would have never imagined
that they could turn it into a chapel,” Matteo said.
Thanks to the vision and commitment of the pastor, Father Michael Picard,
the Chapel of the Holy Family is resplendent with crown-molding, art work
and four additional pieces of stained glass, as well as the Stations of
the Cross, which were used in the parish’s former church.
The school chapel was dedicated in December 2006. It was necessary because
the school, which was built 12 years ago, is about five miles from the
parish church, making it difficult for students to attend Eucharistic
Adoration during their school day. Now they can spend time in their own
chapel every day.
With the permission of Cardinal Justin Rigali, the school offers Eucharistic
Adoration regularly, and even broadcasts the devotion through the school’s
television so that St. Andrew’s 900-plus students can participate.
“The children know they are in Christ’s presence,” Matteo
said, and that knowledge is having an impact.
At St. Andrew, there is a school Mass in the gym every month and a weekly
Mass for each grade in the Marian multipurpose room, but the chapel provides
the students with a more intimate prayer life.
Every morning, the school’s ministry team, made up of seventh- and
eighth-graders, pray the rosary in the chapel. The school also prays for
three families each day, so that every school family receives prayers
during the year. Students from those families, along with the director
of religious education, Dominican Sister Patricia Marie, say the prayers
in the chapel. Each class is given time to use it throughout the day.
On certain days, the school even opens the chapel to visitors —
many of whom helped fund the chapel through donations.
Matteo loves the response of students who see their principal or teachers
in the chapel praying.
“The children really notice. They are very impressed by seeing that
witness,” she said. “The chapel has enhanced our entire spirituality.
It’s been a real blessing and a gift to us.”
As for the stained-glass window, it draws the attention of anyone passing
by on the outside, including public school students, who share the same
driveway with St. Andrew School. For Matteo, the window has become “another
way to distinguish that we are a Catholic school.”
CS&T staff writer Nadia Maria Smith can be reached at npozo@adphila.org
or (215) 965-4614.