Teresian House chapel suffused with light

Day or night, the chapel seems to be saturated with the colors of the sun. The walls, painted yellow and sponged over with hues of orange, reflect light as if the sun were shining right in the room.

It isn't just the large wall of windows that allows light to spill into the space, however, and it isn't simply the beautifully muted oranges and yellows of the remaining walls that suggest sunshine. It is much, much more.

Place of light

Although the chapel is part of the new Bishop Howard J. Hubbard Pavilion that also houses an Alzheimer's wing, its design is steeped in ancient, Carmelite tradition. Sister Pauline Brecanier, O. Carm., administrator of Teresian House, explained that she wanted to stay in tune with the roots of the Carmelites, who trace their roots back to hermits who lived at Mount Carmel in the Holy Land.

"If you have ever visited there, you see lots of terra cotta color -- brick, tan and neutral colors," she noted. "This is what I had in mind."

Designs on chapel

"I had already seen several newly designed chapels and churches in the Diocese," Sister Pauline said. "I was interested in a contemporary design."

Although Father Vosko assisted with the liturgical aspect of the design, interior designers Jim Lewis and Christopher Lohr from Icarus Furniture in Troy are responsible for what the chapel looks like.

"Both did a lot of research on the history of our Order," Sister Pauline noted. "Jim suggested the color of the walls. Icarus Furniture actually designed a complete model of what the chapel would look like. Right from the beginning, I liked it."

Woods

The tabernacle of solid curly maple has an imported European sycamore burl and Swiss pearwood veneer. The interior of the tabernacle has veneer and a Cedar-of-Lebanon insert. The ambo is constructed of a skeleton of cherry wood ribs with the upper surface made of maple.

The iconostasis, flanking the wooden altar, is a frame-and-panel construction of cherry wood with two central pocket doors that are closed during the celebration of the Eucharist and opened to reveal the tabernacle behind. In the doors of the iconostasis are two hand-painted icons, one of St. Michael the Archangel as Protector and Guide, and the other of St. Gabriel the Archangel as Annunciator of the Incarnation.

Color of light

When the chapel was initially completed in the autumn of 1998, only the lower half of the walls were "sponged" with orange over yellow paint. Sister Pauline told The Evangelist that the painter could not finish the upper portion of the walls, so a Teresian House employee, Lou Center, offered to finish.

Once he was finished, the effect was dazzling. The staff fondly remembers his work; last year, Mr. Center passed away unexpectedly.

"He was a wonderful employee -- and a very good painter," said Sister Pauline.

Interfaith effort

Since the Carmelite Order has a devotion to the Infant of Prague that dates from the 1600s, a large wooden, hand-carved statue of the Infant holds a place of honor. Another statue lies buried beneath the chapel. A sculpture of Our Lady of Mount Carmel graces the front of the chapel; it was sculpted by Phyllis Kulmatiski of Scotia.

The large Holy Water font was donated by St. Vincent de Paul Church and the wooden Stations of the Cross by St. Joseph's Church, both in Albany.

Reaction

"I love this place," she said. "I come here often, just to sit and pray. The design is good for those people in wheelchairs. I can see [the altar] and receive Holy Communion easily, and I like the fact that I have enough room to sit down with my walker and see what is going on. It is a very reverential place!"

Rev. John Malecki, chaplain at Teresian House, is also happy with the chapel's design.

"It is a good space to worship in. It lends itself well to communal worship and is in keeping with the liturgical requirements of the Second Vatican Council," he said. "It's comfortable for the residents, and the acoustics are wonderful. It's a very peaceful place."

"I think it's a beautiful, very inspirational chapel," said Sister Pauline. "I am very happy with it."

(07-05-01) [[In-content Ad]]