August 8, 2024 at 7:00 a.m.
DIVINE MERCY
On the backside of the rectory of Sacred Heart Church in Troy, a wooden sign dangles beside a large door.
To arrive at the entrance, one must walk down the slanted driveway leading to a small alley between the rectory building and Sacred Heart School. It feels mysterious, in a whimsical way, walking to the back entrance of a building, like taking a secret passageway. Above the ramped entrance, the sign hangs painted in gold lettering with twisted metal leaves around the main message: “Sacred Heart Church Divine Mercy Chapel.”
Through the door, a quick turn down a small hallway will lead guests to a chapel space filled with red-cushioned chairs, soft lighting with tiny windows for sunlight, and — most importantly — Jesus Christ.
Tabernacle and altar inside the Sacred Heart chapel. (Emily Benson photo)In January, Sacred Heart opened the Divine Mercy Chapel to allow local parishioners or anyone of interest the chance for Eucharistic adoration at any hour of the day.
Mark Trudeau, parish administrator for Sacred Heart, was central to the chapel’s opening. When he first took the job in 2018, one of the first projects mentioned was the hope of converting the empty room into a chapel space. But Trudeau says the room’s significance dates back far before him, almost half a century ago.
“It started 40-45 years ago in regards to this specific room,” he said.
Joan Flynn, a parishioner of Sacred Heart, started a prayer group for parishioners in her home. The late Father James Vaughan, pastor of the parish, knew about the prayer group and would occasionally join in praying with them. One day, instead of meeting at Flynn’s home, he pitched having the group hold their meetings at Sacred Heart in the room below the rectory.
“The (chapel) room was the room he gave them to do that, and for decades, they met in that room,” Trudeau said. “There are a lot of places to pray, but I think this is significant because of the intention and the efforts of this group — primarily women — who came to pray for the parish communities and specific intentions and so on.”
In 2012, the prayer group moved to another space in the church and the room was turned into the office for Faith Formation, which was run by Flynn’s daughter, Erin, and her husband, Matt Ingold.
Trudeau joined the parish right as the Ingolds were moving to Florida. Matt even told Trudeau about the opening at Sacred Heart for a parish administrator, and right as they were heading out, Trudeau started at the church.
Before leaving, Matt mentioned to Trudeau that while working in the Faith Formation office, he always thought the space should be a chapel instead.
“I said let’s just both start praying about that, and somehow we’ll make that happen,” Trudeau said. “That somehow is today.”
Guests of the chapel space must first register with Trudeau to be allowed entry. Each guest who registers is given a key fob they can use 24/7 to enter the chapel space and pray.
Claire Memole, a parishioner at Sacred Heart, enjoys walking to the chapel from her house down the street.
“I know people who go at four in the morning; I know people who go at 11 o’clock at night,” she said. “You can go whenever it’s convenient for your schedule.”
A sign for the chapel marked in the hallway by its entry way. (Emily Benson photo)The chapel has approximately 150 registered guests. Some are parishioners, others are not. Every guest is encouraged to bring their friends and family with them as long as they leave as a group when done.
“When I go into the chapel, I can be there for 15 minutes, 60 minutes; I think my longest is three or four hours that I’ve gone in there just to pray with nothing,” Memole said. “Just to sit and just to spend time with him.”
Some guests come simply to sit with Jesus; others bring their concerns or worries to God. For anyone praying for a particular person, a basket inside the chapel holds a collection of notes guests can fill out and send to a loved one, telling them they prayed for them.
Sitting inside the room, the altar space in the center feels like a fireplace, inviting guests to sit and relax. Trudeau’s brother and son made the tabernacle that holds the Eucharist, one of many elements of love interlaced throughout the room.
“I think it’s also part of the atmosphere and the way the chapel is set up,” Memole said. “It’s very much like a living room, and I feel like I was visiting with Jesus. Whether it’s, oh, I’m really struggling with that, or this person has something going on today, but just by bringing all of those things to him, you can just come and sit in his presence.
“And especially this chapel, you just sit there in his love. He’s gazing at you with everything that’s going on. He can fix everything, but maybe everything won’t be resolved the way we want it to, but he’s with us.”
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