Denomination Roman Catholic Functional status Active Address Washington, DC 20007, USA Completed 1893 | Religious institute Jesuit Groundbreaking 1892 Phone +1 202-687-4300 | |
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Location Dahlgren Quadrangle,
Georgetown University,
Washington, D.C. Pastor(s) Rev. Gregory Schenden, S.J. Archdiocese Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington Similar Healy Hall, Gaston Hall, Riggs Library, Georgetown University Astronom, Bishop John Carroll | ||
Cantate domino dahlgren chapel of the sacred heart georgetown university
The Dahlgren Chapel of the Sacred Heart (often shortened to Dahlgren Chapel) is a Roman Catholic chapel located in Dahlgren Quadrangle on the main campus of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The chapel is located within the Archdiocese of Washington, is maintained by Georgetown University, and is administered by the Society of Jesus. It is the largest place of worship on Georgetown's campus and is the primary Catholic house of worship for students, faculty, and other community members. Masses are celebrated regularly and the chapel is a popular location for baptisms and weddings, particularly of Georgetown alumni.
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Behold the tabernacle of god dahlgren chapel of the sacred heart georgetown university
History
Construction of the red, brick, Dahlgren Chapel began in 1892. It became the first building on Georgetown's campus to be funded entirely by external philanthropy. Elizabeth Wharton Drexel, spouse of Georgetown undergraduate, graduate, and law school alumnus John Vinton Dahlgren (whose father was Rear Admiral John Dahlgren), donated funds for its construction as a memorial to their first son, Joseph Drexel Dahlgren, who died at the age of one year in 1891. Elizabeth "Bessie" Drexel took a personal interest in overseeing the fabrication of the stained glass windows.
Construction was completed in 1893 and dedication occurred that same year. At the time of its completion, Dahlgren Chapel was positioned in the geographic center of campus, behind Healy Hall and adjacent to Old North, the oldest standing building on campus. Today, it resides in the historic and administrative center of campus and, along with its surrounding buildings, encloses Dahlgren Quadrangle.
After years of disregard, a large iron cross was re-discovered in the basement of Healy Hall in 1989. The cross is inscribed with "ad perpetuam rei memoriam," which translates from Latin as "may this be eternally remembered." It is believed to have been carried by ship from England to St. Clement's Island and St. Mary's City of the Maryland Colony by the Jesuits, thereby making it present at the first Roman Catholic mass said in English-speaking North America. The cross is today housed in Dahlgren Chapel. The same cross was used in a mass celebrated by Pope Francis at the Basilica of the National Shrine in late September 2015 when he visited Washington, D.C., his first mass in the United States as Pope.
In 2011, Georgetown undertook an $8 million renovation of the chapel, the fourth in its history. Major structural renovations and interior refurbishments were made, and the stained glass windows were removed, re-leaded, and re-installed. A new pipe organ was installed during the renovation.