$4.5M chapel opening in The Woodlands
Members of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church etched some final details into the cornerstone for the new Our Lady of Angels chapel Wednesday, culminating a three-year project to build a new place of worship.
The church raised $7.5 million in donations to build the chapel, among other expansion plans. The $4.5 million facility can seat around 350 people and includes 27 ordained relics from saints, disciples and the True Cross.
The chapel was dedicated Dec. 10.
“There were many tears and an audible gasp during the dedication,” buildings and grounds director Janine Braun said. “It’s something that our parish has looked forward to for a long time.”
Communications and chapel manager Mary Batey said there has been a need for more space for years at one of The Woodlands’ largest Catholic churches.
The main church has filled so much on holidays that they had to open the gym for 4 p.m. Christmas mass last year, Batey said, and scheduling events was becoming a logistical mess.
“This chapel has definitely allowed us another space on Christmas, Easter, these holy days so people can actually have a seat,” Batey said. “It’s also another opportunity for people to take time out of the craziness and come and sit quietly (to) pray.”
With arched windows, marble accents and a more classical feel than the main parish, the space is designed to host weddings, funerals, confessions and daily mass. The altar and statues are all imported from Italy, Batey said.
The new chapel also contains a reliquary with 27 relics from saints, disciples and Jesus Christ. Visitors can take a tour through history and pray alongside relics from Mary Magdalene and saints, including Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II.
“We want this reliquary to be for everybody. You don’t have to be Catholic,” Batey said. “This is a lot of history.. it’s a very unique opportunity to share with our community.”
Planning for the project began several years ago but was put on the backburner for many years until parishioners voted to move ahead on the project years later.
The church began raising funds through Pushpay just before COVID, and around 1,400 donors contributed $7.5 million to the project. Construction for the chapel broke ground in February 2021.
The chapel is already getting plenty of use, with weddings and other events already booked for the space. Interested parties can choose between the chapel or main church for events.
Our Lady of Angels chapel opened for daily mass Jan. 2 and is open for visiting hours from 8 a.m.-noon Monday through Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday.
While the church initially raised money for a $16.1 million expansion campaign, Batey said the church will pause before breaking ground on any new projects.
“This project was the most difficult and memorable project that I have personally ever undertaken,” Braun said. “(We) participated in building a structure that will stand the test of time and serve our Catholic community for many years to come.”