Abp. Shaw’s chapel a reflection of centrality of God

By Christine Bordelon
Clarion Herald

“God is at the center of our lives here at Shaw,” said Salesian Father Steve Ryan, director and head of school at Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero.

Affirming that statement is the current renovation and quadrupling of the size of the former Don Bosco Chapel, built in 1984, from 60 to 220 seats by incorporating Don Bosco Hall. This will allow Masses to be celebrated for an entire grade level, the football team, retreats and other occasions.

“If Jesus is the center of our school, we ought to have a beautiful place in the center of campus to love and adore him,” Father Ryan said. “The chapel needed beautification to lift our souls to God.”

Natural light abounds
One of the many enhancements of the space is a skylight with exterior cupola topped by a cross that casts additional natural light to glass-lined walls of Don Bosco Hall.

“It finally looks like a church with a tower and cross on it,” Father Ryan said. “The cross makes it known that this is the chapel. … I have four simple crosses on the walls made of wood from Hope Haven that are over 100 years old. It takes the legacy of all the good done over the years by the Salesians, and it brings it into the new chapel.”

On the interior, sliding glass doors made of eight, stained-glass panels by artist Barbara Brocato of each of the school’s household saints – Acutis, Savio, de Sales and Frassati – will “provide a visual reminder for the boys to live like their household saints” and also provide space for intimate Masses, Father Ryan said. Existing relics of the four household saints also will be placed in a reliquary in the chapel.


One item from the former chapel, a crucifix, remains but sits inside a newly built niche. The entire 150-by-40-foot  space was rewired for the internet, and a sound system was installed to provide for enhanced acoustics. Tile floors and recessed lighting were added, and fiberglass statues of Don Bosco and Mary Help of Christians, obtained from Salesians in the Philippines, are forthcoming.

Father Ryan added his own unique touch to the chapel – a bell from a fire engine where his father was fire chief in New York City. It will be rung before Mass.

“When the boys come out from the period before lunch, the bell will remind them that there is Mass, if they want to go,” he said. “It’s only 20 minutes, come on in. It’s another opportunity for God to be part of our lives.”

Staying on budget
Father Ryan said the generosity of time and treasure from many helped Shaw stay within its $250,000 budget. Friend, 1982 alumnus and St. Andrew the Apostle pastor Father John Talamo and his maintenance staffer are building a double-sided wooden altar; and Father Luke Nguyen, pastor of St. Anthony in Lafitte, has donated 17 pews. (Another 30-40 pews are needed.)

The Salesians’ welcoming presence has influenced many past and current students to volunteer with the project. Current students have sanded and varnished wood in the chapel, and alumni have chipped in. Steve Daigle, class of 1985, donated all the pine wood from his sawmill in Mississippi; project consultants John Dalton and Jason Brown Sr., who are also alumni parents, assisted; and Joseph Toomy, a member of Shaw’s first graduating class, and his wife Joann made a significant donation. The chapel will be renamed Toomy Chapel in dedication to current and deceased Toomy family members.

Others making contributions include Catholic volunteer Pat Tierney, who is doing painting and staining; Jose Medina and his group of carpenters; and Ray Brothers Roofing, which constructed the tower and cross.

The five Salesians on staff – Father Ryan; Father John Langan, youth ministry coordinator; Father Ky Nguyen, theology teacher; and Father Wilgintz Polynice, French teacher and weekly Giving Hope food bank coordinator – will celebrate Mass. Salesian Brother Kevin White is also on staff.

“Now that the chapel is beautified, it feels like a place of worship,” said Brandon Surrency, wrestling coach and assistant head of school of institutional advancement.

Hopes are that the new space will be ready for worship by Nov. 1.  During construction, Mass has been celebrated in a temporary chapel upstairs in All Saints Hall.

“It’s really coming along,” Father Ryan said. “There were so many things that came together. Little by little, God kept showing the way.” 

Donations may be made for the chapel project at www.archbishopshaw.org/donate/
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